NPC,NEETs and nighttime stalkers

The morning after our blacksmith visit, I was feeling unstoppable.

We had gold. We had gear. We had a home. Although Lyssa was snoring like a drunken raccoon in the next room. I guess some things never change.

I kicked her off the bed. We still had a lot of work to do in this fantasy world and I wasn’t going to let this NEET sleep all day!

“HEYYY WHAT WAS THAT FOR REN!!”

“It’s almost noon, it's time to get up, we still have a lot to do, I’m also feeling generous,” I said stretching. “We should go thank the old man.”

“You mean Old Man Velo?”

“Yeah. He’s the only NPC in this town with real main character energy. Plus, I think he’s secretly the final boss.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

So I grabbed Luffy (who had claimed the sunniest spot in the house as his throne), equipped our shiny new gear, and set off to find the cryptic wagon wizard himself.

I headed out into town with lyssa and Luffy or Luffin as I would call him here in this fantasy world to find the old geezer.

Old Man Velo was where we always found him—leaning against his wagon like he was waiting for a prophecy to happen. I mean seriously can this guy try to aura farm any harder.

“Back again, huh?” he said, without looking at us. “Didn’t think you’d Come back to me after that mission”

“We’re built different now,” I replied. “New sword, new armor, new credit score. We’re getting money now like those rappers in my old world”

“A rap what? Old man velo said with a confused look on his face

“Nothing I was just speaking gibberish” I forgot this is a fantasy world for a second

Lyssa twirled her staff and struck a dramatic pose. “We’ve been reborn in divine glow-up.”

He gave us both a long, slow look. Then his gaze drifted to Luffy.

His expression changed.

Not fear. Not awe.

Recognition.

“You,” he muttered. “You’re the one.”

My stomach dropped. “Wait, what is the chosen one, well I’m flattered, you hear that lyssa I guess you aren’t so mighty after all Divine being ?”

“I’m not talking about you,perverted adventurer, I’m talking about your dog here!”

“How did you know I’m a pervert old man”

“Because I can recognize my own kind”

He approached, eyes narrowing—not at me, but at Luffy. The little guy stood still, strangely calm.

“That bond between you two,” Velo said, tapping his temple. “It’s not ordinary. Soulbound Tamers are rare enough… but your resonance is deep. Ancient. Something’s awakening in both of you.”

Lyssa crossed her arms. “Okay, cryptic Gandalf, can you just tell us if we’re gonna explode or not?”

He ignored her and looked at me.

“HOW DARE YOU IGNORE A GODDESS!”

“You want to grow stronger? Then fight. Real fights. Not forest pests. Not pub quests. Battle is your whetstone.”

I nodded slowly. “So… no more squirrel hunting?”

“No more squirrel hunting.”

Then he stepped back and pulled out a small scroll, placing it into my hands.

“No charge. Just… be careful. You’re not the only one drawn to power. Go to the guild hall tomorrow morning the pretty elf girl should give you a quest that will help you earn XP, this scroll is an enchantment you should only use under very serious circumstances”

I blinked. “What does that mean? You’re also talking about my future wife there old man”

But he was already climbing into his wagon, humming like we’d never been there.

“I guess you’re just gonna drop another riddle on us and leave old man!”

He left in his wagon ignoring us completely

Lyssa squinted at the forest nearby.

“What a weirdo,” she said. “But something’s watching. No there’s someone watching, that’s odd actually why would they—“

“Everything alright lyssa?”

“Yeah Ren forgot I said anything”

That night, we prepared for the next morning by gathering our supplies and making sure we had a set plan. We figured we’d leave early tomorrow for our next big quest. Luffy curled up near the fire, snoring softly. I sat polishing my new sword, trying to act like I knew what I was doing.

Lyssa was unusually quiet.

“Something’s been watching us since this morning,” she said.

I froze.

“Bandits?”

“No. Worse.” She stared into the darkness of the trees. “Familiar.”

I followed her gaze but saw nothing.

“You think it’s someone you know?”

She didn’t answer. Just stood up and walked to the window.

“I used to go to the Divine Academy,” she said. “Before I flunked out and became a disgrace to my pantheon.”

“…That tracks.”

“There was someone there—someone who was obsessed with me. And not in a fun yandere way.”

She turned back to me, eyes serious.

“I thought I lost her when I fell. But the divine world doesn’t give up on its weirdos.”

I looked back toward the trees.

Still nothing.

But even Luffy stirred and let out a low growl.

“Let’s keep an eye out,” I said.

Lyssa nodded.

Then smirked.

“And here I was hoping this world would be stalker-free.”

We packed up camp the next morning, but that uneasy feeling lingered. Whatever had been watching us was gone—or hiding.

But Velo’s warning echoed in my head.

Something was changing. Awakening.

My bond with Luffy, Lyssa’s growing power, and now this mysterious shadow tailing us…

The Isekai honeymoon phase was definitely over. I wanted to sleep in a little bit more but our Divine NEET wasn’t having it.

You’d think after nearly dying in a forest, getting rich, and bribing a goddess with ale, I’d get one full day to enjoy my new bed.

Nope.

I got dragged—literally dragged—by Lyssa back to the guild.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME YOU NEET!”

For some reason lyssa seemed very eager to get out of town on a new quest, usually it would be me dragging her out of bed.

Luffy trotted beside us, looking more refreshed than both of us combined.

We walked into the guildhall, which for once, was weirdly quiet. No bards. No screaming rookies. Just the distant sound of some poor sap crying about being bitten by a mimic treasure chest.

The elf receptionist—my maybe-future-wife—was already waiting for us, arms crossed, silver hair shimmering under the skylight like a boss fight intro.

“You three,” she said, tapping a scroll on the desk, “got something special today.”

I gave her my best tired-but-flirtatious smirk. “Special as in ‘easy coin’ or ‘we’ll probably die again’? But maybe I can put up with anything if I could just receive a kiss”

She arched a perfect brow. “Here you pervert.”

…Not the answer I was hoping for.

Lyssa snatched the scroll and read aloud.

[Special Mission: Slime Purge – Forgotten Ruins of Tal’Ruun]

Objective: Eliminate slimes occupying the ancient ruins.

Payment: 4 copper per slime core.

Reported count: 200+ slimes (and growing).

Bonus: Rare elemental slime variants may drop loot.

Deadline: None. Grind at your leisure.

I blinked. “Wait. Slimes? Like the little goop guys?”

“Little? Maybe. Harmless? Depends. They multiply if you slice them wrong,” the receptionist said casually. “No one likes going there—it’s more mess than money. But hey… you three like mess.”

Lyssa flipped her hair. “You’re welcome.”

Luffy pawed the scroll like he was accepting a royal decree.

I looked at my party—alcoholic goddess and ten-pound battle shih tzu—and nodded.

“We’ll take it.”

We were off on our journey to slime city!