NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka? (MMORPG : Elysia Online)

I woke up with a strange feeling. The morning sunlight seeped through the small window in the corner of the inn room, creating a golden hue that slowly warmed the room. My breathing was steady, but something felt... off.

As I tried to move my hand, I felt something soft and warm beside me. My brain quickly processed the situation, and the next second —

"Oi... since when did I sleep with someone?!"

I turned my head slowly, making sure I wasn't dreaming or hallucinating. Beside me, a girl with disheveled golden hair lay on the pillow, her face looking peaceful and —

"...Lyra?!"

I almost jumped, but thankfully my reflexes were good enough to hold myself back. She was still asleep, her breathing steady, occasionally shifting slightly under the blanket.

I recalled what happened last night. We did stay in the same room because of... technical issues —more precisely, I ran out of money, and Lyra insisted on helping me in an "efficient" way. But I clearly remember sleeping on the floor with a thin blanket, while Lyra took the bed.

So... how did I end up waking up in bed with her?!

Before I could figure out the answer, Lyra stirred slowly, her eyelids fluttering, then slowly opening. Her sapphire blue eyes, still drowsy, stared at me for a few seconds before narrowing, forming an expression that was clearly full of mischief.

"Oh~? Why are you looking at me like that, Rei? Don't tell me you did something to me last night?" she said in a teasing tone, her voice still hoarse from just waking up.

I swallowed hard. She's definitely doing this on purpose!

"W-wait, I clearly slept on the other bed last night!" I exclaimed, quickly backing away, only to realize that the blanket had slipped off my body. I was still fully clothed, but still—this situation was too suspicious!

Lyra covered her mouth, holding back a laugh. Oh crap, she's enjoying this...

"Yeah, yeah, I believe you~," she said, but her facial expression clearly said otherwise.

I let out a long sigh. I need to get out of this situation before she goes even crazier.

However, before I could move further, Lyra suddenly rolled towards me, making the distance between us even thinner. I could feel her warm breath as she smiled slightly.

"Hey, Rei... how about we stay like this a little longer?" she whispered mischievously.

My blood rushed to my head.

"Don't joke around, Lyra!" I shouted, quickly jumping out of bed.

Lyra laughed heartily, clearly satisfied with my reaction. She rubbed her eyes, still looking sleepy, but her expression seemed much more relaxed compared to last night.

"You're too easy to mess with, Rei," she said while stretching. "But yeah, I'm happy. This morning feels more enjoyable."

I could only stare at her with a half-resigned expression. What kind of enjoyable morning is this when my heart almost jumped out of my chest?!

After a few minutes to calm myself down, I finally sat on the chair near the window, observing the city that was starting to come alive. Elysia in the morning looked much more peaceful compared to the previous night.

Lyra got up from the bed, stretching her body before walking over to the small table in the corner of the room and pouring water from the jug into a wooden cup.

"So, what's your plan for today?" she asked casually while sipping the water.

I thought for a moment. I didn't have a clear goal yet, and until now, I still didn't know how to make money quickly in this world. Maybe I should look for a side job or—

"Hey, how about we work together?" Lyra suddenly said, making me turn to her.

"Work together?" I repeated.

Lyra nodded. "I have a few quests that I haven't finished yet. If you come with me, we can share the rewards, and maybe I can teach you a few things about how to survive in this world."

I looked at her, trying to read her intentions. So far, she had been kind, but I still didn't fully understand why she wanted to keep being with me.

However, before I could answer, Lyra smiled mischievously again.

"Unless... you prefer to rely on your charm and sleep for free in other people's rooms?" she teased.

...Damn, she's not going to let me live in peace today, is she?

I could only sigh. "Alright, I'll come. But don't try to mess with me again!"

Lyra chuckled softly. "No promises, Rei~."

Our footsteps echoed along the cobblestone streets of Elysia, blending with the bustling morning that was starting to get lively. The merchants were opening their stalls, enthusiastically selling their goods, while a group of adventurers seemed to be preparing near the guild to take on their own quests.

I walked beside Lyra, still feeling a bit awkward after what happened earlier that morning. She, on the other hand, seemed so relaxed—or more accurately, too relaxed.

"You've been quiet since earlier, Rei~," Lyra turned to me with her mischievous smile. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about what happened this morning?"

I cleared my throat, pretending to focus on the road. "I'm just trying to save energy for the quest later."

"Hmm? I was hoping you'd remember it for a bit longer," she said, this time with a more teasing tone.

I almost choked on air. "That's not something worth remembering!"

She just giggled softly, satisfied with my reaction. I let out a long sigh. This journey is going to be long...

As we passed through the market, Lyra suddenly stopped at one of the stalls selling snacks.

"Hey, let's buy something first!" she said, her eyes sparkling like a child's.

I looked at her doubtfully. "Shouldn't we be heading out of the gate soon?"

"Relax~! We're not in a hurry, are we?" she replied while grabbing a piece of meat-filled bread and started biting into it.

I finally gave in and bought one as well. As soon as I took a bite, it tasted much better than I expected.

"Hmm... not bad," I murmured.

Lyra smiled contentedly. "Of course! I've been a regular here, you know? When it comes to food, you can trust me."

After a few minutes, we finally reached the city gate. Outside, a dirt road stretched out towards a vast grassland filled with low-level monsters—the perfect place to complete beginner quests like the one we took today.

I tightened my leather gloves, preparing myself. Lyra, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, but her eyes were shining with anticipation.

"Alright, Rei," she said while patting my shoulder. "Today, I'll see if you can really fight or if you're just all talk!"

I sighed. "I also want to know how troublesome you are in a fight."

She smirked. "We'll see~."

We finally stepped through the city gate, ready to face whatever awaited us outside...

The morning sunlight swept across the city of Elysia, making the cobblestone streets glisten under its rays. I walked beside Lyra, who seemed cheerful as usual—or at least, that's what she wanted to show. After last night's incident, I began to realize that there was something deeper behind her smile.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Lyra suddenly asked in a teasing tone.

I glanced at her, noticing her eyes sparkling with mischief. I could sense a trap behind her question.

"I slept well enough," I replied flatly, trying not to take the bait.

"Really?" She leaned her face closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"I heard someone tossing and turning in the middle of the night~."

I just sighed. I could have immediately retorted with something that would embarrass her, but for some reason, letting her savor her victory felt better.

"Whatever you say."

Lyra chuckled softly, then walked ahead of me. But I could see her stealing glances a few times, as if making sure I was still following her.

The city streets gradually grew busier, with players and NPCs bustling about, busy with their respective activities. We headed toward the city gate, where several adventurer parties were already preparing to head out and complete their quests.

"So, what's our quest this time?" I finally asked.

Lyra pulled out a scroll from her inventory and unfolded it in front of me.

"Clearing the forest outside the city. Low-level monsters have been bothering the merchants, so we just need to take out a few of them."

A simple quest, it should be. But, considering my luck so far, I could guess that something was bound to happen.

We walked out of the city gate, heading toward a small trail that led to a small forest. A cool breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves above us.

Lyra swung her arms behind her head, walking at a leisurely pace. "You know, I think we should go out of the city like this more often. I like the fresh air here."

I glanced at her briefly. "You say that as if we can't leave the city anytime."

She grinned. "Well, maybe I just want an excuse to take you out more often."

I just shook my head.

After walking quite a distance, we finally reached the forest. Tall trees loomed around us, casting long shadows that covered most of the area.

I took a deep breath.

This should just be a simple quest... but why do I feel like something's going to happen?

Outside the gate, the atmosphere felt livelier. Adventurers bustled about, some preparing to hunt monsters in the grasslands, while others seemed to be strategizing for a nearby dungeon.

We took a trail toward the quest location Lyra had chosen. Today, we had to collect rare materials from large insect-type monsters living around the northern forest. Not something difficult, but troublesome if we weren't careful.

Lyra walked beside me casually, occasionally swinging her sword in the air as if warming up.

"Hey, Rei, how about we make a little bet?" she suddenly said.

I glanced at her suspiciously. "What kind of bet?"

"Wow, quick response. You're too cautious, huh?" She giggled before continuing. "How about whoever defeats more monsters gets a request from the loser?"

I thought for a moment. If it's just monster hunting, I shouldn't have too much trouble. "Alright, I accept."

Lyra grinned widely. "Great! But remember, if I win... you might have to do something embarrassing in the middle of the city later."

I sighed. I should have known she'd use it for something like this. But whatever, I just need to win so I don't fall into her trap.

We finally arrived at the hunting area and started looking for targets. It didn't take long before an Armored Beetle the size of an adult dog emerged from behind the bushes.

"One, two, three... go!" Lyra immediately dashed forward, striking the monster with a quick attack.

I didn't stay idle. With reflexes, I swung my weapon and launched a counterattack.

The hunt began.

I swung my sword with precision, aiming for the most vulnerable part of the Armored Beetle's body. CLANG! Unfortunately, my attack only sparked slightly as it hit the hard shell. As its name suggested, this monster had incredibly strong defenses.

"Tsk, it's so tough!" I jumped back, avoiding a counterattack from the monster as it tried to ram me with its large body.

"Of course! It's called an Armored Beetle! Did you think it was just a regular beetle?" Lyra shouted while continuing to attack with the two daggers in her hands. Her attacks were much faster than mine, but unfortunately, they still weren't enough to penetrate the monster's defenses.

I observed the movements of the giant insect. If direct attacks don't work, I need to find another weak spot! I noticed the weaker parts of its body—the joints of its legs and the softer underside of its abdomen compared to its thick-shelled back.

"Lyra! We need to attack it from below or the joints of its legs!" I shouted instructions.

"Got it! I'll distract it! You attack from below!" Lyra jumped to the side, nimbly dodging the monster's attacks while continuing to strike from the side. I saw my chance.

I jumped behind the monster, waiting for the right moment before launching my attack. As soon as the monster lifted one of its legs to attack Lyra, I thrust my sword into its joint.

"RRAAAHHH!" My sword successfully pierced its soft spot, causing the monster to let out a hiss of pain. Its claws slammed into the ground, sending dust flying.

"Nice! Keep attacking!" Lyra became more aggressive, striking the monster's side.

However, the Armored Beetle wasn't an opponent that could be easily defeated. Quickly, the monster began to writhe and turn its body to attack both of us.

I almost got hit by its counterattack. This monster is getting angry. We need to finish it now!

Lyra and I moved in sync, understanding each other without words. The Armored Beetle in front of us let out a loud creaking sound as its shell was hit by a barrage of attacks. Although it seemed slow, this monster had incredibly strong defenses. Its attacks were also quite fast for its size—a strike from its front leg could easily crush a rock.

"Too thick. We need to attack it from below or between its joints!" I shouted while dodging its claw swipe.

"I figured as much!" Lyra jumped to the side, trying to thrust her sword into a small gap between the Armored Beetle's shell plates. However, the monster reacted faster than we expected. With a rough movement, it shook its body, causing Lyra to lose her balance momentarily.

I immediately ran and swung my sword downward, trying to hit its weak spot. But before my strike could land, the Armored Beetle lifted its body and slammed the ground hard—the shockwave it created sent me flying backward.

"Oof—!" I landed on the ground back-first, the pain spreading throughout my body. This monster is stronger than expected...

"Hey, are you okay?" Lyra ran toward me, her face showing concern.

I groaned softly, then struggled to get up. "I can still fight. But we need to find a way to defeat it quickly before we run out of stamina."

Lyra thought for a moment before her face lit up. "I have an idea! But it'll require a little... extra teamwork."

I frowned. "Extra teamwork?"

With a meaningful smile, Lyra suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me into a strategic position near the monster. I didn't fully understand her plan, but I knew it would involve something reckless.

"You trust me, right?" she asked in a tone that sounded like a challenge.

I let out a long sigh. "Seems like I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Good. Then—"

Without any warning, Lyra ran straight toward the Armored Beetle at full speed. I followed her, making sure I was ready for whatever was about to happen.

As the monster tried to attack her, Lyra jumped onto my shoulders—yes, she used my shoulders as a stepping stone—and launched herself into the air. The sun shone brightly behind her, creating a silhouette that almost looked like a climactic scene from an epic battle.

"Now, Rei!"

I slashed at the Armored Beetle's front leg with all my strength, causing it to lose its balance. At the same moment, Lyra landed right on the monster's back and thrust her sword into the softer part between its shells.

The monster let out a screeching sound and began to writhe. I quickly slashed at its underside to ensure our attack ended in victory.

A few seconds later, the Armored Beetle fell with a heavy thud.

"Haaah... finally." I wiped the sweat off my forehead, feeling relieved.

Lyra jumped down from the monster's body with an overly confident flair. "See? I told you. Our teamwork is perfect!" she said with a grin.

I stared at her with a flat expression. "You really enjoy this, don't you?"

She just chuckled softly before giving me a high-five.

We finally managed to collect the drop item from the Armored Beetle and took a short break before continuing to the next hunt.