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Chapter 2
By the time the door opened and the dust dancing in the air was violently stirred, the figure who had been hesitating stepped inside at last.
What could be seen was a black robe wrapped around his body—the cheapest beginner’s model, probably bought from a general store—and a glimpse of black hair, along with a jawline falling into shadow beneath the hood.
Still, he was someone Mona recognized. She greeted him first with a smile.
“Hello, Mr. Riota.”
“Hello.”
The man answering her was quite tall. Mona wasn’t particularly short herself, but watching him naturally avoid the bundles of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling made her realize it again.
Hmm, passing grade. Handsome points +100.
Mona smiled to herself.
[Riota] had become a regular, treating the potion shop’s daily quest as part of his everyday routine.
At first, Mona had only thought, Oh, he’s here again? But his steady consistency had impressed her enough to form a one-sided sense of familiarity.
What was truly fascinating, though, was that she still had never seen his face.
“Did you bring them again today?”
Pushing aside her wandering thoughts, Mona summoned the [Trade] system as she asked.
“Yes. Here.”
Riota handed her a pouch stuffed full of something. As always, it was Wolf Claws.
When she poured them onto the counter and waited a moment, a sound chimed and a transparent [Trade] window appeared.
<SYSTEM>
‘Wolf Claw’ ×20.
Purchase from user at quest price?
Feels like more than usual today.
“Thank you for your hard work. That’s a load off my mind.”
“Not at all. I’m glad I could help.”
“I’m always grateful. Just a moment, please!”
Mona bustled around, piling [Mona’s Potions], gold coins, and several auxiliary items onto the counter.
“This one is a higher-grade potion I made earlier. You sprinkle this powder on wounds, and also—”
Riota looked flustered as the items continued to pile up.
“You really don’t have to go this far.”
“Oh, come on. Between us, what’s there to say? You’re always helping out. Don’t feel burdened.”
“Well… then I’ll accept gratefully.”
As he dipped his head slightly, strands of black hair peeked out from beneath the robe. Heh. Warm and wholesome as ever. Mona’s expression softened.
Th-this is just the system-recommended smile.
Half true, half false.
In reality, Riota was a user who had maxed out [NPC Mona]’s affection level. Yes… this game actually had an affection system!
She’d once scoffed at the idea—What is this, some dating sim nonsense? Just numbers manipulating data. But Mona had still worked diligently, slipping in just a pinch of personal bias.
At first, she’d wondered if he was just mindlessly clearing stamps no one cared about, raising affection even for a worthless NPC like her.
But that doesn’t seem to be it.
What’s so hard about giving one extra potion? Sure, his voice was nice. And he was tall.
And handsome. Well—probably. My instincts say so.
Visits from a presumed handsome user were a ray of light and energy in an otherwise monotonous potion shop routine.
His face was mostly hidden, but even half of it being this pleasant was rare. No—actually…
I like it even more. There’s room for imagination.
Besides, players couldn’t customize their appearance beyond eye and hair color. That meant this guy was the real deal.
He’s real. Definitely real. At least half of him!
“Mona?”
“Huh!”
She must have been smiling for a while. Snapping back to reality, Mona straightened her expression and recited her scripted line.
“Wolf Claws are an essential ingredient. I’m always grateful that you sell them to me at a good price. I only wish the merchant guild would arrive sooner…”
“Are you short on supplies? I can bring more.”
“Oh my, how kind. But please don’t overdo it.”
“It’s no trouble. Have you heard anything from the guild?”
Of course, that guild would never come. It was just a line from the NPC manual…
Please don’t ask too deeply when I don’t even know myself…
Mona waved it off awkwardly.
“Well… maybe soon?”
“I see.”
A brief silence followed.
Umm…
Just as the awkwardness threatened to twist her insides, Riota spoke first.
“I hope this place stays the same forever.”
Mona too, he added softly, smiling. The corner of his mouth visible beneath the hood curved pleasantly.
“What could possibly happen? I was born and raised in Newbie Village. I want to live here forever.”
Of course, that was a lie. The details were clearly explained in The Great Journey ~Legend Begins~ Setting Book (Internal Training Ver. 1).
As Riota gathered the items from the counter, he whispered,
“Really?”
“Pardon? I didn’t catch that.”
“Haha, it’s nothing.”
“Is that so? …Ah! Take this too. It’s a high-quality potion.”
“Thank you.”
Even with his bag bulging to the brim, Riota lingered for quite a while.
With that deeply pulled-down hood, it was impossible to tell where he was looking.
It’d be rude to ask, right?
Mona lowered her face for no reason and diligently wiped the counter.
“Mona.”
“Yes, Mr. Riota.”
His lips moved as if to say something.
“I…”
“Yes?”
As she watched his hands fidget and his robe sway slightly, the shop bell rang sharply and someone burst through the door.
Mona and Riota turned at the same time.
“Wolves! I got them all! I’m not late, right?”
As expected, it was [BestArcherEver]. His gear had improved since last time, and a pouch stuffed with items hung from his waist.
It is about the end of daily quest hours, but couldn’t you have come just a little later…
As Mona mentally counted how many [Mona’s Potions] remained, Riota gave a short bow.
“I should be going now, Mona.”
“Weren’t you about to say something?”
“No. There will be another chance.”
“Oh… okay.”
[BestArcherEver]’s sparkling, reward-hungry gaze was already overwhelming.
“Of course. You come often. Take care, and see you again.”
Mona smiled and waved, brushing it off lightly, thinking he must just be busy.
* * *
“Ahh, I can breathe again.”
Cracking open a can of beer and taking a sip, Mona scrunched her nose. As cool relief slid down her throat, hunger she’d forgotten about surged back, and she stuffed her mouth with the hamburger she’d bought.
“Sweet and salty really is the best.”
Eating unhealthy food in a place where no one could interrupt was pure happiness.
The chair she was practically lying in spun slowly, the ceiling light tracing a dizzying circle. If her mother saw her, she’d get smacked on the back, but right now she wanted to be properly lazy.
She’d nearly been swarmed by beginner players at the end, but whatever. She’d clocked out on time.
Good work today, me.
NPCs needed around the clock worked in shifts, but unless something special came up, Mona always left right on time—after setting safety measures, of course.
Once her shift ended, she had two options.
Option 1: Close the shop and leave.
According to her setting, [Mona] lived at the village chief’s house, so after closing up, she could stroll around the village for a bit.
Option 2: Leave the AI running.
What? During beginner rush events when the village got too busy and Potion Shop No. 1 was overflowing, this method came into play.
The AI that learned Mona’s patterns worked fairly well, but it always made the next day nerve-wracking. Unpredictable situations happened more often than not.
After scribbling out the daily report and opening her eyes inside the capsule, she could finally go home.
Sometimes it’s confusing.
Which is real? This, or that?
Whenever she felt mixed up, all she had to do was look at her boss’s face.
I want to go home. Oh… right. This isn’t my home.
“Is Mona still Mona in real life too?”
Even forcing a fake laugh at Team Leader Oh’s terrible joke had been exhausting.
“Nothing worth watching.”
Mona blankly flipped through channels with the remote. The quiet apartment quickly filled with TV noise.
She watched a movie for a bit, then turned off the auto-dubbing. Letting foreign words wash over her, she dozed briefly.
No, no. If I fall asleep now, it’s work again.
Annoyed, she drained the rest of her beer, the sharp fizz making her throat shudder.
—“…Authorities continue searching for the missing suspect to ease public anxiety…”
—“…You’re actually siblings! What? Excuse me?!…”
—“…Healthy teeth insurance, fully guaranteed until age 100! Call now…”
Propping her chin on her hand, Mona stared at the TV with dull, exhausted eyes. As the channel switching slowed, her eyelids gradually closed.
“Ah… I’m sleepy…”
She must have stayed in the capsule too long. The perfectly timed alcohol dragged her eyelids down.
Just as she collapsed flat onto the bed—
Amid the low murmur of the TV, one voice suddenly stood out, strikingly clear.
—“Hello… I am ……”
“Hm?”
It sounded familiar. On the screen, a once-popular movie was playing.
Blinking sleepily, Mona rummaged through her memory.
It really sounds familiar.
If she lifted her head, she might see it… maybe she should turn the volume up—
Her hand, reaching for the remote, slowly stopped.
And then she fell asleep.
Completely.
