Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game

Chapter 35

The forest is boring, stifling, and uncomfortable.

This comes from someone who has lived in the forest for 12 years, so it would be hard to argue against it.

Yor’s odd hobbies, like sewing, tanning, and sharpening, were all developed as ways to fend off boredom.

Sure, the scenery was nice, but seeing it for 12 years straight was overkill. He could eat meat frequently, but there was a limit to how much enjoyment he could get from cooking.

There just wasn't anything fun to do in the forest. It was only natural that Yor felt stifled.

“What?”

Ha-neul initially expressed concern.

“Are you sure it's okay to leave the forest? What if we get caught? That could be disastrous.”

While illusions could deceive the eye, they weren’t foolproof. There was always the risk of being discovered, and the consequences of being caught were severe.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”

Of course, Yor hadn’t ignored those risks. Leaving the forest was an unnecessary danger to take.

But could anyone live their entire life making only rational decisions?

He wanted to take a bit of a risk, just this once. He was also curious to see how the world had changed in the last few years. Sure, Chae-rin brought back information regularly, but hearing about things and seeing them were two different experiences.

To be honest, though, it wasn’t even about all that—Yor simply wanted to leave. He had been stuck in the forest for 12 years. Wasn’t it about time for a little trip to the city? He wanted to people-watch, maybe eat some fresh bread.

Thankfully, Ha-neul didn’t put up much resistance. She was worried, but casting an illusion to change his appearance wasn’t particularly difficult.

“Wait a moment. I’ll expand the range of the spell.”

With that, she drew in more mana, not only altering the markings on his body but also adjusting his outward appearance. Yor was somewhat of a well-known figure, after all. If the photos circulating in the community were any indication, people certainly knew his face. A crowd would be a problem.

As the magic began to work, Yor’s appearance gradually changed. His black hair shifted to a common brown, and his striking amber eyes transformed into an unremarkable blue. Given the Western setting, blue eyes were much more common here.

She also slightly adjusted the proportions of his nose and face, making them less striking. It was a shame to hide such handsome features, but he figured it wasn’t a big deal—it was something only he needed to know.

“Oh.”

With his appearance altered, Yor’s original features had all but disappeared. Though his body shape remained the same, making him impossible to completely transform into someone else, no one would be able to recognize him based on this new look.

Satisfied with his transformation, Yor grinned.@@@@

“Alright, let’s go.”

And so, they left the forest.

Perhaps because it was early in the morning, the sun was still shining brightly when they emerged. The weather was perfect, and the clouds in the sky only added to the picturesque atmosphere.

Yor had changed his outfit before stepping out. After all, he couldn’t exactly walk into a bustling marketplace wearing just a tank top. In a medieval setting like this, he might even get arrested for public indecency.

To avoid standing out, he donned long pants, a short-sleeved shirt, and a brown cloak. It was a bit warm, but it would keep him from attracting too much attention.

Beyond the edge of the forest lay an expansive plain that stretched to the horizon. Although there was a large city nearby, it would take at least an hour to get there on foot.

For Ha-neul, it was an oddly pleasant but awkward hour. While someone like Chae-rin could chat away for an hour without a care, Ha-neul wasn’t the sociable type. Conversation was a challenge for her, especially with someone like Yor, who had barely interacted with anyone for 12 years. It was a bit of an introvert’s nightmare.

Still, she made an effort to keep up some small talk.

‘...Wait.’

After walking for a while, Ha-neul suddenly realized something incredible.

‘Isn’t this... a date?’

A man and a woman going somewhere together. At least by her standards, this was clearly a date. And to top it off, the “man” had been the one to invite her. For someone with traditional values like Ha-neul, this was a rather radical situation.

Wow, she hadn’t even been on a proper blind date in the real world, and now she was suddenly on a date with the opposite sex!

‘Did they catch on?’

Feeling a faint sense of unease, Yor’s hand instinctively reached for the dagger at his side. If things went south, he was ready to fight his way out.

“What’s the matter?”

Before he could act, Ha-neul spoke up. The guard, sensing her wariness, chuckled.

“Haha, no need to be so tense. It’s just a routine inspection. There’s been a lot of trouble lately with that Lemegeton cult.”

“Oh... I see.”

Phew. Yor let out a sigh of relief. Of course, the kingdom would be cracking down, trying to catch those cultists. It made sense that security would be tighter.

It was just bad timing that they’d come on the day of an inspection.

Still, he decided to act casual and asked the guard,

“...So, what kind of inspection are you conducting?”

“Wow, sir, you’ve got a great voice. It’s simple, really. Just show us your ID badge.”

“Ah...”

An ID badge. Easy enough.

Anyone living in the city should have one—whether an adventurer’s badge, a merchant’s badge, or something else.

‘But I don’t have one.’

The problem was that Yor was a true delinquent, the kind of person who ranked lower than back-alley thugs. Why would someone like him have an ID badge?

‘Crap.’

It was almost funny how they hadn’t checked for one at the gate but were asking for it now. These guys really knew how to do their jobs.

Should he just make a run for it? His face was hidden anyway, so escaping wouldn’t be too much of a problem. Sure, it would put Ha-neul in a bit of a tough spot, but she had a solid identity—she’d be fine.

As he debated his options, Ha-neul’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and show it.”

It wasn’t the guard speaking, but Ha-neul.

Yor looked at her, asking with his eyes, What ID? I don’t have one.

“What do you mean? You brought it with you, remember? It’s in your back pocket, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

It was then that he realized she had a plan.

“Oh... right. Yeah, of course.”

He decided to go along with her little act, pretending to search his pockets for the badge.

Of course, no amount of searching would make an ID badge magically appear.

“Damn it, I can’t seem to find it. Where did it go?”

As he continued his clumsy performance, Ha-neul, looking a bit frustrated, stepped forward.

“...Let me check.”

Her face was full of determination.

Shuuk!

And with that, her hand slipped into his pocket.