I pulled back the curtain on the window, letting the bright morning light flood into the room. The place felt dull. In my previous life, I had plenty of entertainment options, but now I had nothing. I was bored out of my mind… or maybe this was happening because I was finally getting used to the world of Staria?
I didn't know what to do now, but Gaziel Break was still ongoing, meaning I could leave the palace. It seemed the news about Tiana being intercepted by spies hadn't spread, so no annoying guests had come to check on her. That was good… I got up from the bed and left my room. I hadn't slept the entire night, yet Maris had decided to stay with me for a long time…
Oh, looks like everyone's still asleep. Well, it's way too early in the morning for anyone to be up, especially since we're on break. If I keep going like this, I think I might actually die. Sleep is necessary—one of the best things in the universe, definitely in my top five sacred things. Is my end approaching? Seriously?! That would be really bad… I mean, dying here, in front of all these people, the good and the bad alike!
Well, at the very least, I should have a little fun before I die from sleep deprivation… I went downstairs to the first floor, which was quiet and illuminated by the morning sunlight. The palace's main door was locked, so I headed to the servants' entrance. I wandered around a bit until I finally reached it. The door was iron, arched at the top, and painted black, contrasting with the crimson walls. It had glass panels that reflected the sunlight. I tried opening it, but it was locked… Fuck!
"What are you planning to do outside this early in the morning?"
A voice came from behind me. It was Bonnie, one of the most skilled servants here. She approached me, her silver rabbit ears twitching, her boobs bouncing like jelly. She held a hand broom and wore small glasses. It looked like she was working… What?! She was working during a break? And this early in the morning?! Oh, that's why she's a top-ranked servant… It was obvious from the six-pointed star pinned to her uniform.
"I just want to take a walk," I said, turning my gaze back to the door.
"You're not planning to run away, are you?" she muttered with a sly smile as she pulled a key from her pocket. Oh, she's in charge of unlocking the door too!
"Run away? No way. How would I even do that?" I replied, watching her as she stepped forward to unlock the door. She was clearly older than me, but a bit short.
"Just run while no one's looking," she added with a light chuckle after opening the door.
"That's funny… Thanks anyway," I said as I stepped outside.
"You're welcome," she murmured as she walked back into the palace, leaving the door shut behind her.
Goddamn it, she scared me! Did someone leak my escape plan…? No, no, that's impossible. But speaking of escaping, I guess it wouldn't be that hard to just run. There's no one around. But what if Gaziel can sense any aura entering or leaving his detection range? What if he suddenly appears in front of me while I'm running away? Ugh, that would be terrifying!
I plucked a flower. I wasn't going to smell it, but I liked tearing the petals off and scattering them around. Alright, what do I do now? After walking under the morning sun for a while—thinking it would be good for my body—I lay down on the soft grass, patting my stomach, trying to create rhythmic sounds like a melody. Then, I started humming softly.
I stared at the clear sky, then at the towering palace in front of me. God, how do they build structures like this without technology? Does magic help them? Man, I'm sick of this view. I want to leave this place and explore the world. I've started adapting to this place, so I don't struggle as much as before. I guess it took me a while to adjust, but whatever.
Then, countless thoughts about escaping flooded my mind. I imagined different scenarios—some where we successfully escaped, others where one of us died while the rest got away, and some where I never even mustered the courage to flee.
Ugh, when will I finally get out of this place? Those bastards won't even let the servants resign. Ugh, this pisses me off! Where are human rights… and demi-human rights?! This world is seriously strange. Who would've thought a place like this existed? It's honestly insane. And the gods here… There seem to be a lot of them, not just that bit—I mean, the goddess Lunariss.
Man, imagine if she could hear my thoughts. No, impossible. If she could, I'd be dead by now. But in the end, they're gods. Their power goes beyond human comprehension. Yeah, she probably hears me, but she doesn't give a fuck about a pathetic creature like me.
◆ ◆ ◆
"Laos."
As I was lying down, I suddenly jolted up when I heard my name in a composed voice—one I knew all too well. It was the same voice as the girl calling me in that nightmare! Shit, this is terrifying. I stood up and started looking around. God, did she follow me even in the morning?! No, no, this is creepy… Fear and anxiety overwhelmed me to the point where my heart started aching. Fuck!
"Laos. Laos."
The fucking voice kept calling my name, getting quieter each time, leaving behind an eerie echo from the forest. God, should I follow the source of the voice and see who this bitch is?! She kept calling me over and over while I stood there, frozen in shock, fear, and dreadful memories consuming me. This is terrifying! Should I go to where the voice is coming from?
"Laos, come. I'm waiting for you."
Agh!! She's speaking! I couldn't just stand there anymore, so I left my spot and rushed toward the forest. I walked toward the source of the voice, and that fucking woman kept calling my name. After wandering between the trees for a while, I finally reached the spot. But… there was nothing, Just a flat area filled with flowers. A place like any other in this forest, surrounded by countless trees.
"Laos, will you come to me?"
"Who are you, and how do I even get to you?!"
God, this is creepy. Suddenly, after I asked that question, a mirage-like shimmer spread over the ground, revealing a staircase leading downward. Holy shit. What is this?! A hidden underground passage concealed by magic? Is the owner of this voice down there…? Fear consumed me. I couldn't move. I was truly terrified!
"Who are you…? I can't just go down to someone I don't know."
"But you'll regret it if you don't."
"Regret it? You mean I'll regret it if I go down, not the other way around."
"If you come to me, you'll gain immense power."
"Immense power…? This is obviously a scam, you idiot."
"Not at all. Just take the first step down… I promise you won't regret it, Laos. Come on."
I was still scared, but I placed my foot on the first step. Even so, there was no way I was going in. I just wanted to confirm that the staircase was real and not an illusion. Suddenly, just as I was about to pull my foot away—In an instant, I was transported to another place. A place I knew very well… It was… That fucking endless sea!!
"Welcome, Laos."
Suddenly, as I was watching the scenery I had suddenly been transported to, a girl appeared before me—a short girl with a beautiful face, dressed in a white robe adorned with black fur. She had blue eyes, the same color as the sea she stood upon, and dark blue horns, resembling those of a dragon rather than the bull-like horns of Evol. She stood on the water with her long white hair flowing, walking as if it were solid ground… My God, what kind of dream is this?!
"Welcome to the Sea Spirit's Domain. I am Thalesa, the Sea Spirit, one of the seven spirits created by the goddess of spirits, Nevma."
Spirits! Is it finally time for me to gain my own special power?! My God, I feel both excitement and anxiety—it's a whirlwind of emotions… At this moment, I felt a great surge of energy compelling me to speak. Yes, I wanted to talk to this girl… or rather, this spirit.
"What? Why am I here?" I asked, staring at her intently, afraid that this was all just a dream.
"Well, we spirits can only be heard by those with legendary classes. That's why you've been hearing my voice in your sleep."
"Legendary classes? But I'm just an NPC."
"NPC? I've never heard of that before… but wait, aren't you a Hero?"
"No."
"Impossible! You can't hear my voice unless you have a legendary class. Are you sure this 'NPC' isn't actually a legendary class?"
"Yes, I'm sure. It's just a useless class belonging to someone completely worthless."
"This is unbelievable. In any case, you must be some kind of idiot who doesn't even know what his class truly is… I don't care about this 'NPC' nonsense, but I'll repeat myself—only those with legendary classes can hear our voices. Besides, I know your name, and we spirits only know the names of those closest to us."
Oh my God!!! Does this mean that the NPC class is actually a legendary class in this world?! No way, luck has finally smiled upon me! I'm going to become strong, and then I'll turn into a hero surrounded by a massive harem!
"But why were you stopping me from sleeping?!"
"Sorry, but nighttime is when you're mostly alone, and I didn't want you to reveal what happened in your dreams. Besides, I was getting bored here. Let me explain further."
"There are seven spirits in the world of Staria, and we all reside within seven weapons, known as Astral Weapons. These are powerful weapons that house spirits within them, but using them is extremely difficult… For example, I, Thalesa, the Sea Spirit, reside within an Astral Sword. A long time ago, Gaziel formed a contract with me and wielded the sword for years, but he struggled. He wasn't someone with a legendary class or overwhelming power. In his case, every time he used the Astral Sword, his lifespan and strength were diminished."
"So Gaziel placed me in this floor and forbade anyone from entering. I lived here alone for a long time, only seeing guards who came to check on me before leaving again… I couldn't bear the loneliness anymore. So when I sensed your aura, I realized that someone capable of wielding an Astral Sword had arrived—you. That's why I called out to you again and again… and now, here you are before me."
"And if I wield it, what will happen?"
"Since you can hear my voice, it means you're someone who can use spirit weapons and interact with spirits without any issues. So don't worry—you can wield the Astral Sword without concern."
Oh, this is it. This is the real beginning of my story. Laos, the Spirit User… I'll be just like Haruto and Aishia. I'll gain my own power—my God, I can't believe it… A terrifying wave of joy surged through my heart, shaking my body and banishing all sorrow. Now, I'll finally sleep peacefully—with power in my hands. Now, the story of the NPC will begin.
"Alright, Laos… Will you form a contract with me?" she asked, approaching me with graceful steps.
"Yes… Yes! I will form a contract with you!" I declared, already imagining my future after this contract.
Suddenly, Thalesa absorbed all the water in the sea. A tremendous force drained the place dry. I couldn't see properly because the water moved too fast, rushing toward her body. Then, an explosion of water erupted, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in the ruins… It was the fifth floor—a vast, grand room, and in its center stood a magnificent sword with some water surrounding it. A sword with a white blade, a blue aura, and a crystal the color of the sea—it was truly breathtaking.
"Come, Laos. Take hold of the sword to complete the contract," the sword—Thalesa—urged.
I stepped forward slowly and gripped its hilt. It was cold… Suddenly, a terrifying aura surged from the sword, wrapping around me completely. I felt a power—an incredible power, greater than even the aura of Gaziel. I raised the sword high and, without realizing it, broke into a wide grin. I was truly happy.
"Thank you, Thalesa," I said, overflowing with joy.
"Alright, now let's go over the symptoms of forming a contract with a spirit."
"Wait, you're explaining the symptoms after the contract?!"
"First, you need to understand that Spirits are a power system, just like magic or any other power system in Staria. Second, forming a contract with a spirit means that it becomes a part of you—I will reside in your body until the contract is broken. Third, whenever you use the Astral Sword, your hair will turn white. Fourth, the Astral Sword has many abilities, starting from the weakest to the strongest, and you can unlock these abilities through training and bonding with the sword… That's all I can explain for now."
Suddenly, after Thalesa finished her explanation, the sword vanished as if it had never existed. It became an aura that entered my hand. Ah! This is the true Isekai experience! The weak protagonist, bullied by everyone, suddenly gains an extraordinary power! Alright, this story will be titled Isekai NPC or NPC and Spirit… No, Isekai NPC sounds better. Whatever, the title doesn't matter—the only thing that matters is that my story is finally beginning!
"Wait, how do I summon the sword back?" I asked, staring at my hand where Thalesa's aura had disappeared.
"It's simple. Just will the sword to appear. Since I now reside within you as your personal spirit, I will respond to your intent, and the Astral Sword will manifest again."
I willed the sword to appear, and sure enough, Thalesa responded. The sword materialized in my hand. This is amazing!
"What abilities do I have?" I asked, swinging the sword around.
"None. You can gain abilities by killing monsters with the Astral Sword, but you haven't slain any yet."
"Alright, let's do this!" I shouted as I ascended the stairs leading to the surface, where the sun shone brightly.
"Thank you, Thalesa! Really, thank you for choosing me!"
"You sound like someone who was being tortured and finally got rescued," she replied.
"I was suffering."
"Then let's turn that suffering into happiness together!" she said in her beautiful voice.
"Yes! Let's do it!"
◆ ◆ ◆
It seems Laos has finally found his dream. He has grasped hope in his hands. This kind of power was what he had longed for ever since he set foot in this palace—a power that would let him stand out among everyone else. Now that he has it, he won't waste it. He felt immense joy and overwhelming strength, pushing him to train and master this sword until he gained incredible abilities, ones that would make him a formidable swordsman. Yes, from this moment on, a new story would begin.
A tale that follows one of Laos' many paths in this vast universe. A path where one struggles and suffers before earning their reward—whether they deserve it or not. But what matters is that Laos has suffered… and after suffering comes relief. That's what Laos had hoped for when he met Thalesa. He wished to leave suffering behind and reach salvation. But now, drunk on happiness, he was utterly confident—he believed he had already reached it. So let's see… Will Laos truly escape his suffering, or will he return to it as always?
"I swear, after today, nothing will ever make me sad again!"