MTLNOVEL 1 - The Used Bookstore's NPC
Creeeeak. Along with the sound of the door opening, a customer walks in.
“Welcome to…”
A woman with beige short hair, wearing a blue beret and a languid expression, rose from her seat.
She stood up to greet the customer, but the person who entered the store was a familiar face.
Upon recognizing the familiar face, she sat back down with a deflated expression.
“What? It’s just you, old man.”
One of the old man’s eyebrows rose in response to her distinctly disappointed tone.
It was his characteristic habit when he felt slighted.
“Tsk, tsk. The customer service here is really terrible.”
“So, customer, what brings you here?”
“Hmm? I came to visit, of course.”
“Get out.”
The old man entered the store with a mischievous smile.
The woman didn’t say anything else, suggesting this was their usual way of greeting each other.
As he sat across from the woman, the sly-smiling old man took something out of his bag and placed it on the table.
“What do you think? How much would this be worth?”
The woman’s eyes widened to the size of saucers at the item the old man had placed down.
“This is…”
It was a book that looked extraordinary at first glance.
The cover was stylishly designed, and its material had a substantial quality different from other books.
The exact grade would have to be properly evaluated, but at a glance, it seemed to be at least Mythic grade.
“It’s a skill book that was only spoken of in legends. They say the burning flames resemble the eternal fires of hell, and the screams of souls burning within never cease.”
The old man began the story with a bright smile. That smile resembled that of a young child rather than an elderly man.
It was a scene that would have startled others if they had witnessed it.
The old man was a figure revered enough to be called the Sage of the Tower.
He had led efforts to uncover the Tower’s secrets and showed not even a moment’s hesitation in climbing it. There were many who admired him for this.
He also had an image of being difficult to approach due to his consistently solemn expression and serious attitude.
But what about now? The smile never leaves his face, as if he’s excited just to be having this conversation.
He spreads his arms playfully and exclaims loudly.
Like a child imitating a hero from TV.
“Behold, Inferno!!”
Since this was familiar to her, the woman ignored the old man’s words and examined the book.
As expected, it showed signs of having been used once.
This was unavoidable. Unopened skill books were difficult to find.
Even if they could be found, they were too expensive.
On the other hand, used skill books weren’t that pricey.
Of course, even those prices would skyrocket when collectors got involved, but they were still cheaper than unused skill books.
To purchase skill books cheaply, one had no choice but to buy them second-hand.
Skill books are single-use items. Once read, they are absorbed, so most skill books that have served their purpose are discarded.
“This is definitely good. As expected of a Legendary-grade, the book is quite thick and the content is extremely substantial.”
“So how much will you give me for it?”
“How about this much?”
She pulls out a bundle of money from under the table and places it on top.
“Hmm, for a shop that barely gets any customers, you strangely have a lot of money.”
It was a somewhat burdensome amount. But this cranky old man in front of her wasn’t one to be swayed by sentiment.
If she offered an amount that didn’t match his standards, he would surely turn his back and leave immediately.
This is all my savings…
Can’t be helped. I’ll go hungry today.
The period a person can survive without food intake is approximately 3 to 6 weeks.
Hmm, that’s sufficient. I can hold out until the next subsidy comes in.
Still, not wanting to show her distress, she feigned annoyance.
“Can’t you keep your rude thoughts to yourself?”
‘Damn old geezer.’
Thoughts like that should be kept inside, like I do.
The woman grumbled as she opened the purchased skill book.
A skill book is a kind of manual. It contains detailed instructions on how to use the packaged skill.
Most people throw them away without reading these instructions.
When you think about it that way, it makes sense why skill books get discarded.
I’m not one to read manuals meticulously either.
Within the skill book, the process of how the skill was created, its origin, and usage methods are recorded in detail.
Written in a diary format, it feels like an essay, and since it has a fantasy background, it also feels like reading a novel.
Occasionally, some are expressed in poetry.
Well, most are in non-fiction form, conveying information like a professional reference book.
The reason people throw them away is because reading the skill book again doesn’t generate the skill. Nor does it enhance the skill.
In conclusion, they discard it because there’s no benefit.
“These days, people don’t read books, and that’s the problem. Why do they refuse to read books?”
Thanks to that, there’s not a single customer in the store. The only regular customer only sells books and never buys them, so the shop continues to operate at a loss.
“Tsk tsk. If people heard you say that, they’d call you an old-timer. You should try to stay young at heart. Why do you act like an old person?”
“Do you know I’ve lived longer than you, old man?”
She’s been running the used bookstore since the Tower was established, so that’s definite.
It’s been quite a long time, I guess.
When I first came here, I was very confused.
I thought I had died, but when I opened my eyes, I was in an unfamiliar place. Moreover, in the body of a woman I had never seen before.
I’ve adapted to this body now, but at first, there were many times when I truly wanted to die.
“Yet you look younger than me; I envy your secret.”
“You’re the strange one, old man.”
The moment one enters the Tower, personal time stops. One neither grows nor ages anymore.
Since the survival rate of elderly people isn’t high, it was difficult to find elderly people within the Tower. And even harder to find were young children.
“Huh huh. Is that so? I’m trying to live young in my own way though. They call it ‘MZ’, right?”
Ha, I can’t help but laugh.
I don’t know how old that term is. I never expected to hear something I’d only heard outside the Tower in here.
“Hmm, you’re reacting as if you know this term.”
An observant gaze is directed at me.
That gaze makes me feel oddly uncomfortable.
“Of course I know it. It’s a term used outside the Tower. Even I know that much.”
“Huh huh, is that so?”
I’m an NPC. Not a player, but an NPC.
This is a world inside a game, where players and NPCs exist.
Just because I’m an NPC doesn’t mean I lack emotions or thoughts.
The difference between NPCs and players is simply the presence or absence of a status window and the qualification to climb the Tower.
Maybe that’s why.
Even without reading the skill book, one can obtain skills with just a few clicks.
If it can be obtained easily, there’s no need to read the text.
“Collecting these empty shells after use is either vanity or curiosity, one of the two.”
Most of the time, it’s vanity.
Collecting them to show off to others. To boast about having such a skill, or simply for decoration.
“Are you different?”
“I wonder? What do you think?”
“I’d say it’s curiosity.”
“Why do you think that?”
The old man answered immediately without pondering.
“Because you’re crazy about books. Aren’t you the type who would even bring them back from hell? Based on what I’ve seen of you over the years.”
“That’s accurate.”
A smile naturally formed at his words that seemed to pierce right through me.
What else is there to do after living for so long?
Reading was all I had. I originally liked books, but over the years, it had already taken the form of an obsession.
“You’re crazy.”
“Why are you insulting me?”
“If hoarding this many books isn’t crazy, what is? You don’t even sell them properly.”
“That’s because I can’t sell my children to just anyone.”
“Now I see why there aren’t any customers.”
He shakes his head and sighs.
Why can’t he understand?
My expression naturally became sulky.
“How do you even make money?”
“There’s a subsidy from the Tower. You could call it an NPC privilege!”
I beat my chest, telling him not to worry.
The Tower and NPCs are in a mutually complementary relationship.
NPCs can’t climb the Tower, but they help the Tower in various ways.
They are in charge of security within the Tower, produce and sell various products, and improve the quality of players.
If NPCs didn’t exist in the Tower, various administrative tasks would come to a halt.
As such, the Tower provides various subsidies to take care of NPCs.
My case is a bit different though.
It’s more like a compensation concept.
Originally, I was supposed to be assimilated as a player, but since I was already a dead soul, there was nothing that could be done.
Reconstructing the body as an NPC, and a female one at that, was said to be the best option.
There’s no need to explain all this.
The old man’s face becomes peculiar as he listens to me. It’s an expression as if he’s looking at something pathetic.
“So what do you do for the Tower?”
“Me? Well, I do various things. Economic circulation, you might say? As much as I spend money, the other person earns money, and as that person spends money, the economy circulates.”
I said, twisting my head. I felt a pang of guilt even as I said it myself.
“That means you’re freeloading.”
The old man lets out a deep sigh.
“Managing a store is hard work. I have to chase away bookworms, dust the books every day. I even have to occasionally post promotions for the store on the bulletin board.”
As I spoke, I thought I seemed quite diligent. My voice naturally gained confidence.
“Especially chasing away bookworms is tricky. Since I can’t use insecticides as it would damage the books. Plus, I have to undergo monthly inspections, and if there are too many bookworms, I might have to close the store.”
“Alright, I get it.”
The old man says that and then hesitates again.
“What? Why are you acting like that?”
“Actually, I have another book besides this one.”
“What?!!”
My body involuntarily lurches forward. I hit the table hard and abruptly stand up.
Because I stood up too quickly, I bumped my knee.
“Ouch!!”
“Oh my, you scared me. Are you trying to give this old man a heart attack?”
“It’s fine. You didn’t die.”
“What’s this…? Don’t you know how to respect the elderly?”
“I’m older than you.”
He doesn’t say anything to that.
I quickly change the subject.
“Anyway, I’d like to give you that book, but the situation isn’t good right now.”
“So you want my help?”
“That would be nice.”
“From a fragile NPC like me?”
I wrapped my arms around myself and spoke in the most delicate voice I could muster.
“Fragile my foot.”
“Hmph. Your words hurt.”
The old man’s expression sours.
That’s strange. Don’t old people usually like it when their grandchildren act cute?
“Well, can’t be helped. Then let’s forget about that book.”
“Hey now, when did I say I wouldn’t do it? I’ll do it! I said I’ll do it!”