I Have Become an NPC at the Tower’s Used Bookstore

“No. I don’t like it.”

A woman wearing a hat with a black veil spoke in a bored tone.

She’s dressed in completely black attire.

With long sleeves and a skirt so long it drags on the floor, she’s literally wrapped up, not allowing her skin to show.

She wears black leather gloves on her hands and black leather boots as well.

Completely shrouded in a veil, not even her face, let alone anything else, is properly visible.

The occasional glimpses of skin even appeared pixelated, as if censored.

“What is it that you dislike so much?”

Asked a woman with an impression contrasting with the black woman.

This one is all white.

White short hair, dressed in white attire reminiscent of a cleric.

Her lavender eyes add to the mysterious atmosphere.

However, her empty eyes, as if having lost the will to live, somehow felt eerie.

“I just don’t like anything.”

The black woman answered so, resting her chin on her hand.

Outside the window, the view below the Tower is visible.

A dark night, moonlight so faint you can barely tell if it’s there or not.

Using that moonlight as illumination, she took in the brilliantly shining lights one by one.

In her world of only black and white, light had the most distinct form.

There was a time when she admired that light. She was just envious of those lights that she could never possess, even if she devoted her whole life.

There was a time when she was obsessed with that light. She wanted to have it and keep it to herself, not letting anyone else see it.

There was a time when she hated and despised that light. The lights that she couldn’t reach no matter how much she extended her hand, rather keeping a distance, couldn’t be more hateful.

And so now, she felt nothing at all.

The emotions she had cherished for a long time were not an infinite resource, so now there was nothing left.

After burning all emotions, what remained was just emptiness like ashes and extreme boredom.

She lightly tapped the birdcage she was holding with her fingertips.

Tung tung. The light sound fills the room.

That sound seemed to express her heart perfectly.

Perhaps this is why she came to pursue only fun. Because it was too empty.

It was the same for the woman in white light.

Her extremely empty gaze is directed at empty space where nothing exists.

Those eyes resembled more those of the dead than the living.

In contrast to the lights filling the ground, the sky was endlessly calm.

A night without even stars, a sky where even clouds are gradually disappearing.

The only things hanging in the sky are the sun and the moon.

Even the time when they can meet each other has disappeared, so the sun longs for the moon, and the moon longs for the sun.

The moon, shining alone, spits out sorrowful moonlight in its loneliness.

The night without stars looked particularly darker.

Where did it go wrong? Was it wrong from the design?

Spending time endlessly throwing meaningless questions.

Recalling the countless lights that went out due to her mistake.

Though her eyes are open, it’s no different from having them closed.

Because she’s not looking at what’s here, but at what’s beyond.

Creeak. With a sound breaking the silence, both of their heads turn simultaneously.

A woman with platinum blonde short hair wearing a blue beret enters the room.

Languid eyes survey the room once.

“Why did you call me?”

The trio that has existed since the construction of the Tower gathered.

* * *

A sigh naturally escapes at the sight of the two acting uncharacteristically melancholic.

“Haah.”

Both of their gazes focus intensely at the sound of the sigh.

This is different from the start.

The two I knew weren’t like this.

The ‘Tower’ who actively supported players hoping they would completely climb the Tower, and the ‘Abyss’ who endlessly hindered the players’ climb.

The ‘Abyss’ always sneered, mocking and teasing what the ‘Tower’ did. The ‘Tower’ was busy strictly pointing out the ‘Abyss’s’ wrong behaviors and nagging.

The sight of these two, who had been opposing each other, sitting casually feels quite awkward.

They were two who didn’t match in not only purpose but also in personality, as if they were at opposite poles.

It was the ‘Abyss’s’ original character to react cynically to everything and to give negative responses.

Even now, she continues to complain by saying she doesn’t like things, but this is mild. If it were like before, these would all have been curses.

The ‘Tower’ was always specialized in pointing out the negative aspects of others with clean and clear eyes.

As strict as she was to others, she was strict to herself. Rather, she had a stricter standard for herself.

If she didn’t think she met her own standards, she would suffer for a while and become depressed.

But now, such signs can’t be read.

Dry, lifeless hair and empty, dead eyes.

She wasn’t the person who always maintained cleanliness.

I can feel that both of their personalities have died down a lot. If there’s a flaw, it’s that it seems not only their personalities have died.

After time passed, the two I faced were already broken.

The two who were like firmly standing trees couldn’t withstand the continuous typhoons and eventually collapsed.

Only I, who drifted here and there without any purpose or great belief, stand.

Only the insignificant reed stands.

While the trees that are actually needed have fallen and lie down, only the useless reed stands lonely.

Time makes even the mighty iron rust and erodes even the majestic mountain.

It’s hard to look at the two of them.

I should quickly finish the business and return.

“So why did you call me?”

“Ah.”

Instead of a sweet voice, the ‘Tower’ spoke with a cracked voice.

“Can you turn back time for us?”

“I can turn it back. But I’d need your permission.”

“I don’t mind. Since I’ve failed anyway.”

“Is that something both of you agree on?”

The ‘Tower’ is one and also two.

Sun and moon. Similar yet different from dual personality.

They clearly recognize each other’s existence and even know what the other did.

They share each other’s thoughts perfectly, with no noise in the process.

The sun is awake during the day, and the moon is awake during the night.

“Yes, as always, our opinions are the same.”

“I suppose so.”

I asked just out of courtesy.

Well, I thought from the beginning that the ‘Tower’ might permit it.

The problem isn’t the ‘Tower’ but the ‘Abyss’.

“I don’t mind either.”

“Huh?”

My head turned sharply at the completely unexpected words.

“Ack!”

I might have turned too suddenly, as it seems my neck is strained. That’s how surprised I was.

Rubbing my painful neck, I looked at the ‘Abyss’.

She looks at me nonchalantly, as if asking why I’m like this.

With her face hidden behind the black veil, I can’t read her expression.

“Why you?”

“Why, that’s a strange question. Isn’t it good for you and the Tower?”

“That’s why it’s strange. It’s strange because it’s you, not someone else.”

Wasn’t she a woman famous for her quirky personality?

She was unmatched in quirkiness.

She would have been a contrarian who would say no when everyone else says yes.

As I stared at her, narrowing my eyes with suspicion, she burst into laughter.

“Haha. You’re exactly the same as before. You still can’t hide your expressions.”

“You’ve become much more gentle.”

“How could I stay sharp forever? It’s been gradually worn down over time.”

“So what’s the reason?”

“There’s no reason. I just want to.”

She was always like that. The ‘Abyss’ didn’t move for a reason.

Still, I couldn’t easily accept it this time, so I asked,

“You could conquer the Tower soon. You’ve been aiming for the Tower all this time.”

“Are you worried about me? I’m honored.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

I glared at her, putting strength into my eyes.

The ‘Abyss’ tapped the birdcage lightly and remained silent. After hesitating for a while, she opened her mouth.

“…I just lost interest. It became boring. I wondered what meaning there would be in conquering the Tower.”

It was as empty a statement as the empty birdcage.

“I’ve always wandered looking for the bluebird. But it doesn’t seem to exist here either.”

She muttered so, displaying a self-deprecating smile.

Does the bluebird symbolize happiness? I’m confused whether it’s a figurative expression or an actually existing creature.

That’s why I had nothing to say.

“So I thought starting anew would be fun. Just that reason. As always, I chase fun.”

The gazes of the ‘Abyss’ and the ‘Tower’ focus on me.

“Now you just need to choose. Both of us have agreed.”

The final choice depends on me.

I don’t like the current situation. I don’t like the fate that will change because of my choice.

For a coward like me, there was no word as scary as “responsibility.”

For me, who wanted to take responsibility but couldn’t, there was no more terrible word than that.

In the end, responsibility passed from me to others.

“If we turn back time, I think we could create something called Constellations. A role that supports players. We could elevate the existing main NPCs.”

“That would be disadvantageous for you.”

“And I’ll create something similar to demons to corrupt players. What do you think? Doesn’t it sound fun?”

“You have a bad taste.”

The two discuss future plans as if they think I’ll agree.

It’s scary, but I still have to make a choice.

Tightly closing my eyes, I stated my choice.

“I…”