Who told you I am an NPC

Chapter : 36

The chestnut-haired young man didn't notice Yan Yunqing's inner thoughts and thanked them sincerely, "Thank you so much.

I was just thinking that the injuries I got today are a bit serious.

It would be a little difficult if I had to face a demonic beast later."

The chestnut-haired young man bowed to Yan Yunqing and Lilian.

Yan Yunqing resisted the urge to step back and accepted his bow.

"It's nothing, we just happened to see you."

The chestnut-haired young man straightened up again, "But it's very dangerous here.

You'd better leave here quickly."

He blinked his eyes, "I heard you mention Sunset Village just now.

Are you travelers who are temporarily staying in Sunset Village?"

"Something like that," Yan Yunqing replied.

The chestnut-haired young man nodded, "Then you should hurry back to the village.

Don't worry about the demonic beasts.

I'm watching this place.

I won't let any demonic beasts enter the village, so rest assured."

With that, the chestnut-haired young man once again gave Yan Yunqing a bright and cheerful smile that made people want to smile along with him.

What a bright and cheerful big boy.

Yan Yunqing was silent for a moment, not agreeing with the chestnut-haired young man, but instead asked, "Have you been guarding this village all this time?

Are you the guardian of this village?"

The chestnut-haired young man was momentarily confused and scratched his messy curly hair, "Eh?

I-I guess so... After all, I'm a child who grew up in the village.

It's my duty to protect the village. I wouldn't call myself a guardian."

Lilian seemed to sense something and looked at Yan Yunqing, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Yan Yunqing nodded lightly, confirming Lilian's guess.

"Let me reintroduce myself," Yan Yunqing showed his goodwill.

"My name is Yan Yunqing, a traveler passing by. This is Lilian, my companion."

"Eh? Oh!"

The chestnut-haired young man quickly understood Yan Yunqing's meaning and also introduced himself, "My name is Henry Aval, a swordsman.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Yan, Lilian."

As expected.

This was the one who had died six years ago... Henry Aval.

The son of Old Jason the blacksmith, a guard of the Sunset Village patrol team, and a childhood friend who grew up with Kalenna.

Meeting this Henry in Kalenna's instance, Yan Yunqing was not surprised at all.

Or rather, he had already guessed that he would meet him here.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Henry." Yan Yunqing nodded at Henry.

"Let's go. Are you going to fight a demonic beast? We'll go with you."

"Huh? No, no!" Henry waved his hands hastily upon hearing this.

"That won't do.

Demonic beasts are very dangerous.

You don't have experience fighting them, so it's easy to get injured in battle."

"You have experience, but aren't you the same?"

Yan Yunqing glanced meaningfully at his newly bandaged arm.

Henry embarrassedly hid his injured arm behind his back and stammered a rebuttal, "This... this is different."

"No need to say more, just put on your clothes first," Yan Yunqing shook his head.

"Don't worry, my companion and I are very strong.

We won't be a burden to you."

"But..." Henry obediently put on his clothes. Hearing Yan Yunqing's words, he looked conflicted.

"Alright... but you must follow me closely.

This forest is very dangerous."

Is that so? Is it the forest itself that's dangerous, or the source of the demonic beasts within it?

"Let's go," Yan Yunqing said.

The two humans and one elf set off on their journey to explore the forest.

Henry drew the longsword from his waist.

That sword was different from the one in Yan Yunqing's backpack; it looked more like the mass-produced refined iron swords from Old Jason's blacksmith shop.

Yan Yunqing didn't take out Henry's longsword.

Instead, he took out that crude magic wand again and casually threw a few small fireballs, burning the thorns blocking their path to ashes.

Henry looked at the magic wand in Yan Yunqing's hand in surprise and praised, "I didn't expect you to be a mage.

Your magic is really powerful.

Now I believe you have enough strength to face the demonic beasts."

Just as Yan Yunqing's lips curled up slightly, he heard Henry ask in a puzzled voice, "But, why were you being chased by two Ghost-faced Earthworms before?

Could it be that those two Ghost-faced Earthworms were much higher level than you?"

Yan Yunqing:.

Lilian let out a chuckle and started laughing to herself again.

Indeed, to cover one lie, you have to use countless others.

Yan Yunqing forced an awkward yet polite smile and explained drily, "Oh, it was mainly because those two Ghost-faced Earthworms were too disgusting to look at.

I was accidentally scared."

Upon hearing this, Henry actually nodded in agreement, "You're right.

The appearance of these demonic beasts is indeed very scary.

But all demonic beasts look pretty much the same.

If you're going to fight them next, you'll have to get used to their terrifying looks as soon as possible."

Yan Yunqing: ...He actually believed it?

What kind of pure and naive fool is this? He really is a bright and cheerful big boy!

"...Alright, I'll get used to it as soon as possible."

Lilian: "Pfft—"

After walking for a while, they encountered demonic beasts again.

This time there were more of them, all Lv.15, a total of six.

Henry was very vigilant, fighting the demonic beasts with his refined iron sword.

For now, in their temporary team, Henry was the only front-liner on the surface, so naturally, he had to take the lead, while Yan Yunqing and Lilian secretly launched magic skills from behind.

Henry, as a front-line T-knight, was very good at drawing aggro.

He held the aggro of six demonic beasts and wasn't at a disadvantage at all, hitting the demonic beasts' weak points with every move, making them wail from time to time.

Yan Yunqing observed from behind, occasionally adding a strike to make Henry's fight easier.

Lilian had even less to do—she didn't really want to cast buffing spells on this Henry who had suddenly joined the team.

She didn't know why, but Lilian had disliked this Henry from the moment they met.

It was probably because she instinctively disliked guys who were flippant and liked to attract attention. (Henry: ...? Huh, me?)

He didn't even wear his clothes properly when they first met! Indecent!

Fortunately, Henry didn't know what Lilian was grumbling about him in her heart.

If he knew, he would surely widen his eyes again, showing a confused and helpless expression.

Yan Yunqing cooperated with Henry to kill two demonic beasts.

There were still four left. Henry's movements were clearly a bit sluggish.

The situation of almost one against six had consumed a lot of his stamina, and now he was really struggling.

Sure enough, the next moment, because he failed to dodge in time, Henry was fiercely clawed by one of the demonic beasts, and his sleeve was instantly stained red.

Seeing this, Yan Yunqing shouted, "Lilian."

Lilian grumbled unwillingly, "He's already an undead, what does he need healing for..."

However, she still waved the magic wand in her hand, avoiding the light-based healing spells that would harm the undead, and used a gentler water-based healing spell.

"Hmph, water-based healing spells are not as effective as light-based ones.

Let him suffer for a while.

This is the consequence of daring to be distracted in battle."

Yan Yunqing: ...What's wrong with her now?

He was a bit clueless, but Yan Yunqing shrewdly avoided the topic that might lead to a shuraba.

He coughed lightly and praised, "As expected of Lilian, you're so proficient with both light-based and water-based healing spells."

Lilian snorted, her chin held high. If elves had tails, Lilian's tail would surely be wagging like a propeller at this moment.

It seemed Lilian was very receptive to such praise.

I can try it more often in the future.

Yan Yunqing secretly noted this down.

After receiving healing, Henry quickly got back on his feet and, with Yan Yunqing's cooperation, finished off the remaining four demonic beasts.

At this moment, Henry looked even more battered than when they first met.

His curly chestnut hair had leaves stuck in it from who knows where, his face had several cuts, and the clothes that could barely cover his body before were now tattered.

In contrast, Yan Yunqing was calm and composed.

He even casually tidied his clothes, which had gotten a little messy from running.

He looked refreshed, not at all like someone who had just been in a big fight.

Lilian was even more relaxed.

She was actually sitting on top of Yan Yunqing's head, nibbling on a small fruit she had taken out from somewhere.

Henry looked at himself, then at Yan Yunqing.

The first thing he said was actually, "That's great, neither of you got hurt."

Yan Yunqing's hand, which was tidying his sleeve, stopped, and Lilian's fruit-nibbling action also stiffened for a second.

Oh no, my conscience is hurting a little.

Henry's expression was too sincere, just like him, like a small sun that was constantly radiating warmth, making it impossible for anyone to feel dissatisfied with him.

Even Lilian, who had been secretly looking at him with displeasure, felt a little embarrassed.

"Cough cough..." Yan Yunqing clenched his right fist and coughed lightly into it to ease the awkwardness.

"This is all thanks to you.

If you hadn't been charging at the front, we wouldn't have been able to cast magic so comfortably."

"But it ended up getting you injured again."

Henry smiled cheerfully, "It's fine.

This is what I'm supposed to do. I'm used to it!"

"Besides, this young elf lady, hmm, Lilian?

Hasn't she already healed me?

Thanks to Lilian's healing spell, I feel great now. I can fight ten more demonic beasts!"

Yan Yunqing: "...There's no need for that.

It's tiring to fight so many demonic beasts."

Henry nodded in agreement, "That's true.

It would be better if we don't encounter any more demonic beasts on the way ahead."

Yan Yunqing's eyes flickered, and he pretended to mention casually, "Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever asked, where are you going?

You seem to have a goal in mind."

From the moment Henry agreed to let Yan Yunqing follow, he seemed to have a very clear goal and was heading towards that destination.

If Yan Yunqing wasn't mistaken, that place should be the ultimate origin of his current quest.

[Sunset·The Lingering Shadow of the Curse]

"Hmm?" Henry looked at Yan Yunqing strangely, "I thought you knew.

The place we're going to is—the center of Sunset Forest.

That's where these demonic beasts are born."

"Hmm, the demonic beasts are getting more and more numerous.

We have to get there before the sun sets.

The demonic beasts at night will be even more terrifying.

I don't think you'd want to face a bunch of unknown demonic beasts in a pitch-black environment."

Henry shrugged, "Let's hurry up.

We have to go at full speed now."

Yan Yunqing had some idea in his mind.

So it was in the center of the forest.