### Chapter 423 – Party Time (3) – Where is the Last NPC?
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[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 376
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 0]
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— Han Kain
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As Eunsol noona pulled out the Hand of Greed with a serious expression, a notification popped up.
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「A special event has been triggered by the participant’s request.
Today’s special event: Full renovations of Floors 1 and 2!」
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Full renovations of Floors 1 and 2? Just like that?
Everyone was taken aback for a moment by the unexpected alert before the entire hotel shook noisily and sounds blared from the displays all around.
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— Rumble!
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「Dear guests, Pioneer Hotel will undergo full renovations for the next three days. The work will commence in ten minutes. Please move to a safe location before Floors 1 and 2 are closed.」
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I heard Jinchul hyung’s panicked voice.
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“Noona! You did wish for something specific, right? A hidden –”
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“…”
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Instead of answering, she fell deep into thought while Ari dashed off to grab protective suits and wing boots.
The other colleagues started to gather whatever else they thought they might need.
I even brought my hourglass.
—
When everyone reassembled in the corridor, there were no more questions directed at noona this time.
They all understood the situation.
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If both Floors 1 and 2 were being closed off, the only safe place left was the basement.
—
*
As we rushed down to the basement, Ari spoke with disbelief.
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“Eunsol, just to be clear, you didn’t make a wish by mistake, did you?”
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“Of course not.”
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“Well then, that means the answer is out. The hidden NPC must be in the basement, right?”
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The situation itself was simple.
As we had experienced when searching for the mirror room in the past, it’s forbidden for sponsors to directly provide information regarding hidden elements.
For example, if you ask the Owl about hidden elements using advice, it completely ignores the question.
It seems that Eunsol noona’s sponsor chose to close off every place without an NPC, rather than directly informing us about where the hidden NPC is.
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I understood all that, but…
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“I wish it were somewhere on Floor 2 instead.”
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With Ari’s comment, everyone sighed.
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The hotel basement is an almost infinite space. Ranging from a bar to a billiards room and as vast as a hiking or ski resort, there’s no telling how many facilities there are.
Colleagues who frequent the basement said that every time they go, the layout changes.
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So, just because Floors 1 and 2 are closed for three days, it’s not the end of the world.
There are plenty of places down there to eat and sleep.
I’m just already tired thinking about having to search the basement for three whole days.
—
— Clap!
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Finally, noona clapped her hands and said,
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“Standing around won’t make the NPC appear. Let’s get started. Everyone, spread out and check the basement facilities!”
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Ari added,
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“Try going to places you don’t usually visit. It seems the NPC is hiding in some strange spots!”
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Thus, the long-awaited exploration began.
—
*
[Swimming Pool]
[Billiards Room]
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Let’s skip the places we’ve been to a dozen times.
If the NPC were in places like that, we’d have found it already.
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[Hiking]
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This was already a place where we found the souvenir shop, so let’s skip it too.
There wouldn’t be two hidden NPCs in one room.
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[Gym]
[Bar]
[PC Room]
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The gym, the bar – those are frequented by grandpa and Jinchul hyung.
The PC Room? Should I check this one?
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— Click!
—
As I opened the door, a rather upscale PC room appeared.
With plush chairs, high-quality tables, several expensive-looking computers, and gaming consoles set up, it looked just right for gaming.
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“Seungyub?”
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“…”
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“Seungyub.”
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“Oh, hyung!”
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Seungyub was completely focused on gaming; it didn’t look like he was searching at all.
On the monitor, a blonde boy wearing a green hat was battling monsters or racing across a grassy plain.
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“Is it fun? Didn’t you say the internet was down and you couldn’t play League?”
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“Hyung, this isn’t League. It’s The Legend of Zelda -”
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“Oh, so the kid in the green clothes is Zelda?”
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“…”
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Seungyub looked flustered and clamped his mouth shut.
Just then, someone appeared under the bright white lights.
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“Hello.”
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The moment I heard that voice, he shut off his Nintendo.
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“Ahhh! G-Gain hyung! I didn’t save! I didn’t save –”
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“Hey! Park Seungyub! How many times have I told you not to summon Yumi when you’re alone?!”
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“W-What? That’s not—”
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“Is it polite to blatantly ignore someone in front of them?”
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“…”
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In the end, he awkwardly smiled and turned towards Yumi.
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With her curly black hair, brown eyes, and a face that resembled Aurelia from Room 104 but a bit younger, she looked so real that it almost felt like she had already formed her body.
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“It’s been ages since I got out of Room 104. I thought I’d be a ghost, but it’s closer to being a hologram, I guess?”
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She wore an expression filled with dissatisfaction.
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“I heard from Seungyub. He said to prevent me from forming a body for a while?”
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“…”
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This was practically a level of casually sharing our talk with Yumi.
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“We all need time to ponder together, it’s not because we suspect you.”
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“… I understand.”
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At first, it was absurd, but soon I wondered about something.
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If we’re keeping a distance while coaching, then Seungyub actually needs to focus on his relationship with Yumi.
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He doesn’t need to mechanically follow only Ari or grandpa, right?
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I understood Seungyub’s thoughts and turned off the Nintendo again.
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“Eeeek! Why again! Why again! Hyung, what the heck!”
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“I’ll go look somewhere else~!”
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“Gain hyung!”
—
*
[Train Journey]
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The basement truly has every convenience.
Upon opening a door, a train carriage in motion appeared before me.
Sounds unreal, but if I started questioning things like that, I wouldn’t be able to live in a hotel.
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As I walked along the feel of the soft first-class carpet, I spotted Elena.
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“Ah! Gain!”
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“There you are. Are you searching for something?”
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“Not yet. But it might show up if we wait.”
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“That’s possible.”
—
As I sat across from Elena, gazing out the window, a white landscape filled my vision.
Extensive snowy plains, swirling snowflakes, and conifer trees popping up here and there.
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It’s beautiful but somehow a tad boring.
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Elena sat silently, staring outside, and it seemed like she was recalling old memories.
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“What are you thinking about?”
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“… I once took a ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway when I was younger.”
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“Ah~ I’ve heard about that. It’s famous, right?”
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“Back then, my family was peaceful and not running away from anything…”
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“…Really?”
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“Being here brings back a flood of memories.”
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What’s with this atmosphere?
I was wondering what she was thinking sitting alone on the train, and suddenly she was reminiscing about tranquil childhood moments.
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“…”
—
“…”
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Boring.
Above all, sitting around quietly wouldn’t bring out any NPC.
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“Elena, I just had a great idea.”
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“Yeah?”
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“Have you ever broken a window while on a train?”
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“What?”
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Elena’s response was one of confusion.
Even as I donned hand protections, grabbing the hammer beside the window, Elena was staring at me wide-eyed as if saying, “No way.”
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I’m a man who doesn’t hesitate in such situations.
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— Crash!
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“Ahhh! W-What is the meaning of this?!”
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“I’m someone who doesn’t think twice in situations like this –”
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“Think a little! Why’d you break the window out of nowhere! It’s cold!”
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Elena seemed slightly mad, which is rare.
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— Whoosh!
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In an instant, a blizzard swept into the train, making conversation impossible.
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“Listen up!”
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“I’m listening!”
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“If the conditions for the hidden NPC’s appearance are strict—”
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“So you suddenly break a window! Are you out of your mind?”
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“Look around carefully! Something might come out—”
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“Just get outside now!”
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In the end, Elena and I opened the door connected to the hotel and stepped outside into the [Train Journey].
In no time, we were drenched in snow, while Elena continued to have a dumbfounded expression.
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“What the… Gain?! Are you out of your mind?”
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“Ha ha! Are you feeling a little less down now? It’s a bummer we couldn’t find the hidden NPC, but if it can make Elena smile—”
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“Let’s find different locations!”
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With that, Elena left me.
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“…”
—
*
[Restaurant]
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“Wow~ There’s a restaurant down here?”
—
“…”
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“No way, there’s a restaurant in Room 105, and there’s one down here too? What’s different about this one?”
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“…”
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Ari gazed at my face, holding back a response.
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“What’s up?”
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“I heard from Elena earlier.”
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“…”
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“She said you’ve been acting a bit strange.”
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“Ha ha! Elena is just playing around—”
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“She mentioned you broke a window on the train and let a blizzard in.”
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“…”
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“I’m thinking about eating, so don’t do anything weird.”
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“Of course.”
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As I sat in front of Ari, strange things began occurring in the hotel, just as expected.
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Figures that looked more like mannequins than humans strolled over and began acting like restaurant staff.
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“Sir, may I take your order?”
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Soon, a white menu appeared before me. But the first word, “Amuse-Bouche,” was already incomprehensible to me.
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“…”
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Ari sighed and started ordering various things.
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“Don’t do anything weird.”
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“What are you talking about? I’m just here for a meal.”
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Soon, a dish no larger than a small biscuit appeared on an elegant white plate.
It looked so much like a work of art that I hesitated to eat it, but when I finally tried it, it was underwhelming.
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“It’s a bit sour.”
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“The European cuisine tends to be a bit tangy for Korean tastes.”
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“Is this some European-style clam dish?”
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“It’s Mediterranean style—”
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“Have you eaten a lot of this while working for the Administration Bureau?”
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“It has nothing to do with the Administration Bureau. I just get a good salary, so I’ve tried a lot.”
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What a story to be envious of.
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Can I live like that once I’m out?
—
After waiting a bit after the clam dish, a pink-hued tenderloin steak was brought out, and this one was definitely delicious.
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“What’s this red sauce?”
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“Probably some red wine reduction with stock—”
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As we talked, I recalled Ari showing off her impressive cooking skills in the hotel kitchen before.
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Surprisingly, she seemed to have an interest in cooking.
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The conversation naturally shifted to the agents.
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“I’ve always been curious, what kind of people become agents? Not everyone is a superhuman like you, right? Just look at grandpa; he was an ordinary human before coming to the hotel.”
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“…”
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“Still a secret?”
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“… Well, I guess I can share it now. You know enough.”
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“Yeah.”
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Ari made a circle with her hands.
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Laying sideways like this, it’s infinity.
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“Only those who can endure this can become agents.”
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To endure infinity.
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“… Enduring means what I think it does?”
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“Probably.”
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“What kind of person can endure it?”
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“Varied. Sometimes it’s due to a high spirit level, sometimes due to involvement in strange incidents. Often, the reasons are mysterious.”
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“Hmm… How does the Bureau find out about those people?”
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“Rather than us finding them, they give themselves away. In situations where they think miracles beyond belief have occurred, all sorts of—”
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“Ah! I found it!”
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“What?”
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As Ari looked flustered, I scrutinized my steak as if peering through a microscope, and finally spotted a slightly burnt spot.
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— Bam!
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Without hesitation, I slammed my fist on the table, leaving Ari with a look of disbelief.
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“Hey! You—”
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I’m just doing my best to find the NPC!
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An NPC that hasn’t appeared until Floor 2 ends?
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Surely the conditions for appearing are not ordinary.
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So, I have to do something ridiculous.
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“Uh, excuse me? What’s going on here? Is there a problem—”
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“What’s up with this steak!? How can you serve something this burnt to a customer?!”
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“I-I’ll prepare a new one—”
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“No more excuses! Get the manager out here!”
—
Ari buried her face in her hands.
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