I Became an NPC That Rankers Are Obsessed Over

I opened the inn door.

Feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve been in Moment.

It’s only been two days of rest, though.

Ji-wook was already in the kitchen.

He was singing along to a song playing on the television he had turned on.

Come to think of it, I’ve heard that song a lot on the streets lately.

Even in this anarchic era ruled by monsters, idols seem to exist.

Well, if there are customers who admire psychopathic killers, idols aren’t a big deal.

I’ve gotten used to it by now.

“Si-ho, you’re here?”

He stopped humming, as if embarrassed to be caught, and turned off the television.

Then he greeted me with an awkward smile.

“The song’s good, you can keep it on.”

I smiled lightly as I took off the windbreaker I was wearing.

“Really?”

He turned the power back on, as if responding to my expression.

The cheerful song had me humming along as well.

Slowly, I tied an apron around my waist.

Ji-wook stared at me quietly.

Then he suddenly made a random remark.

“You look a bit different from usual today.”

“Me?”

He looked me up and down before offering a subtle smile.

“Well, before, you seemed stiff and gloomy…”

He put a hand to his mouth, carefully choosing his words.

“Now, you seem soft, and your eyes are gentler.”

I stared at him blankly.

“It’s nothing significant, really, just that your movements seem more delicate now, like a modern young woman.”

He laughed awkwardly, as if it was no big deal.

“…”

But his words left me quite shocked.

I could accept being told I seemed softer and gentler.

That made sense.

I’ve been getting used to this body bit by bit.

But to say my movements are delicate, like a young woman…

It didn’t feel good.

Does this mean I’m really becoming more like a girl?

I stared down at my body.

The curves of my figure were glaringly apparent.

A chill ran down my spine, and I rubbed my arms.

“Stop saying weird things. Do we have any food at the inn?”

“You didn’t eat lunch?”

“Someone finished it all…”

I shrugged at his question.

I remembered a certain woman who had eaten every last bite.

“So you’re cohabiting too, Si-ho.”

He grinned and nodded.

It seemed he was guessing my softer demeanor was thanks to my cohabitant.

His words made my face burn with embarrassment.

I stammered and cut him off.

“No, it’s not like that…”

I turned my head away, not wanting to show him my reddened face.

And I muttered under my breath.

“I just gave some food to a stray cat.”

“A stray cat…?”

He repeated, coming out of the kitchen with freshly baked bread.

He tilted his head, as if my words didn’t make sense.

It was understandable.

What kind of cat would eat fried rice straight out of a bowl?

Maybe I should’ve said it was a leopard or a Bengal cat.

While munching on the bread he gave me, I checked the alcohol stock that had come in today.

As I was inspecting the bottles, Ji-wook approached me with an apologetic expression.

He clasped his hands together, as if he had something important to say.

“Um, you see… Could I leave work an hour early today?”

“Do you have something to do?”

I asked while tearing small pieces of bread.

The warm aroma of the bread he baked lifted my spirits.

“Actually, it’s my girlfriend’s birthday today, and I promised to celebrate with her…”

So he has a girlfriend, huh.

Well, with a clean-cut appearance like his, that’s not surprising.

“Sure, it’s been quieter these days anyway, so I can manage alone.”

“Are you sure? What if something weird happens again, like last time…”

It was a valid concern.

The massacre scene with Anna had been horrific.

If Ji-wook had witnessed that scene himself, he would’ve fainted for sure.

“It’s fine. Anna promised she wouldn’t do that kind of thing in front of me anymore.”

I smirked and waved a piece of bread at him.

Then I realized my words were a slip of the tongue.

“She even promised?”

Ji-wook scratched his head, seeming amazed that I could have that level of conversation with Anna.

“She’s a friend with a story, after all.”

I murmured softly.

Her name suddenly reminded me of what had happened earlier that day.

The moments I’d spent in Anna’s embrace…

Why did I bite her finger back then!

A shiver ran through my body.

Ever since that incident, I’ve felt more sensitive.

Just like Ji-wook said, my gaze and my body seemed softer and rounder.

I held my breath and tensed my body to shake off the thought.

I’m someone who even went to the army.

Seriously, get a grip.

“—.”

By the time the bar’s playlist had looped about ten times, it was late evening.

The nighttime at Moment was quiet.

The visitors who came because of Anna’s rumors had given up after a month of her absence.

Besides, the hastily made Black Velvet cocktail for the performance was truly terrible.

Nobody would drink such a bad cocktail twice.

I wiped the glasses with a bitter feeling.

“Still, it’s a bit sad to see the drop in customers.”

There was an hour left until closing time.

I was planning to spend the rest of the time idly, listening to music.

But that plan was soon disrupted.

The front door suddenly burst open.

A woman with a cap pulled low walked in with her hands in her pockets.

Her steps were light, as if she were moving to a rhythm.

She felt like an excited young girl.

Yes, like someone newly turned an adult, coming to a bar with anticipation.

“Excuse me—.”

The girl plopped herself onto the counter table and called for me.

I calmly wiped my hands with a towel and responded to her call.

“Yes, welcome.”

She leaned her face close to mine.

Then, covering her mouth with one hand, she asked in a very secretive manner.

“Is this the bar where ‘Miss Anna’ is known to come?”

Hearing the same question as always, my eyes naturally drooped.

Of course.

“Anna hasn’t been here in over a month.”

I replied nonchalantly.

My indifferent attitude made the girl lift the corners of her mouth into a wide smile.

“That’s okay, you never know. She might come today.”

What a dangerous thing to say.

Did she want to see swords dancing in the inn again?

Her clueless words sent a chill down my spine.

I habitually rubbed my neck.

“I’ll wait. That’s fine, right?”

“There’s no reason you can’t until closing time.”

“Got it, I’ll leave when it’s time!”

The girl winked at me, as if trying to show she was being considerate.

But she completely misunderstood my words.

I meant I wanted her to leave by closing time…

The girl sat on the high chair, swinging her legs.

I slowly scanned her from head to toe.

The checkered short skirt caught my eye first.

Is such a short skirt trending these days?

Se-hee wears them too, so unguardedly.

But soon, I noticed black shorts under the skirt.

That’s a relief, at least.

Her top was even more outrageous.

It was close to 5 degrees outside, yet she wore a long-sleeved crop top that exposed her navel.

Thankfully, she had a fleece jacket over it, or just looking at her would’ve made me feel cold.

She must like dressing up.

“Unnie, why are you staring at me like that?”

The girl rested her chin on her hands and asked me.

The way she gazed at me blankly reminded me of a cat.

“You just look cold.”

“Are you worried about me? You’re so kind.”

The girl smiled softly.

With every word she spoke, it felt like my energy was being drained.

It was like being dragged onto a TV show I had no interest in.

My nose tickled.

A thick scent seemed to emanate from the girl.

Was it perfume?

No.

It wasn’t artificial; it felt more like her natural scent.

The closer I was to her, the stronger the fragrance became, making me feel dizzy.

Trying to shake off the feeling, I asked her, “Would you like some milk while you wait?”

“Milk? This is a bar, isn’t it? Give me a drink.”

She smiled, looking at the display as if picking out a pretty doll.

“We don’t serve alcohol to minors.”

When I avoided her gaze, the girl chuckled and waved her hands dismissively.

“I’m an adult, unnie.”

“Then, could you show me your ID?”

“Ah.”

Her excitement dropped instantly at my sudden question.

As expected.

Students trying to sneak alcohol always freeze at this point.

“Well… I left it in my manager’s car…”

“You can just go get it from the car.”

I crossed my arms confidently.

The girl fidgeted with her hands, mumbling.

“The car already left.”

“Well, then, there’s no choice. I’ll get you some milk.”

I pulled a carton of milk from the fridge with a thud.

It suited her cat-like appearance perfectly.

“Unnie… My dream is to have a drink here just once. In the place Miss Anna visited…”

She whined, twisting her body as she looked up at me with pleading eyes.

The closer she got to me, the stronger that strange scent became.

I shook my head vigorously.

“Absolutely not.”

When her cute act failed, the girl sighed deeply.

Her face seemed a little flushed now.

“Well, I guess there’s no helping it.”

Yes, just leave already, please.

I closed my eyes and waited for her to go.

But no matter how long I waited, I didn’t hear her get up from the chair.

Instead, she spoke again.

“Now, do you believe me? That I’m an adult.”

Her words made me uneasy.

What was she planning now…

I opened my eyes sharply and looked at the counter.

The girl had taken off her cap and was smiling brightly at me.

Her long black hair fell over her shoulders.

And glitter sparkled under her eyes.

Okay, she’s pretty, I get it.

For a minor, she’s really pretty.

But what am I supposed to do about that?

Her repeated antics made me frown instinctively.

Did she take something before coming here?

Now that I think about it, her eyes did seem a little unfocused.

“What… is this?”

When I reacted with confusion, her confident gaze faltered.

She seemed genuinely flustered.

“Unnie, don’t you know who I am?”

She slammed her hands on the table and stood up.

Then, she leaned her face closer, insisting I take a good look.

“No idea.”

I adjusted my slipping apron and replied.

Feeling insulted, she stepped away from the chair and into the wide hallway.

Then she started doing a strange dance.

“Now? You must’ve seen me on TV. There aren’t many channels these days, after all…”

I shook my head indifferently.

The girl sighed heavily and looked at me with pity.

“Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

“I left mine in the car.”

She sure left a lot of things in that car.

I calmly handed her my phone.

With skillful hands, she opened YouTube.

Soon, a song started playing from the speakers.

She abruptly shoved the music video toward me.

“See? That’s me.”

My eyes widened.

I looked between the idol in the video and the girl standing in front of me.

Satisfied with my reaction, she smiled proudly and crossed her arms.

An idol group composed entirely of hunters ranked A or higher, AIMER.

She was Jae-hee, the youngest and a dancer in the group.

The girl before me was none other than Jae-hee herself.

Now I understood her flashy outfit.

“Now do you get it?”

“What’s there to get? It clearly says you’re nineteen.”

I felt drained, as if all my energy had been sucked out.

She must’ve thought this was her trump card, but all she did was confirm her age.

You’re still a kid.

I’m an adult.

When I remained unfazed by her idol status, she clenched her fists.

Then, with a voice much lower than before, she sighed.

“This isn’t working. I tried to play nice.”

Her voice huskier, she asked me again.

“You read my profile earlier, right? Did you see my ability?”

Ability?

A chill ran down my spine at her words.

Now that I think about it, her profile did list her as an A-rank hunter…

Was she planning to use her ability to threaten me?

I swallowed nervously and skimmed through her details.

My eyes froze on the abilities section.

Pheromones?

As I read it aloud, Jae-hee grabbed my wrist.

I didn’t expect someone my height to have such a strong grip.

Her eyes shimmered with a faint pink glow.

“Uh…”

I stared blankly into her glowing eyes.

A strange heat spread through my body.