Volume 1, Chapter 6 – Even When She’s Flustered, She’s Still Adorably Cute

NPC.

Short for Non-Player Character. It literally means a character not controlled by the player.

In today’s age, where virtual games have advanced tremendously, the term NPC generally refers to artificial intelligence.

However, even now, most NPCs in games are basic AI with pre-set dialogue templates and behavioral scripts defined by programmed logic.

Well, although human-like AI already exists, the essence of artificial intelligence is that it’s not a living human being.

Which means that no matter how human-like an AI becomes, fundamentally, it’s still an existence incapable of genuine emotions.

But…

Even though the Tianyin before her claimed to be an NPC in the game, Xingyu Muxi couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

Because, as all players know, the most advanced NPCs in games only possess self-judgmental AI at best.

“Eh? Xiaoyin, are you really an NPC…?”

The most important point is, since when does an NPC admit on its own that it’s an NPC?

This was the first time she’d ever seen something like that!

“I really am. Um… Sister Xiaomu doesn’t believe me?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, just… how should I say it? It feels like this game world is completely different from any other game I’ve played.”

“So you really don’t believe me, huh?”

Tianyin looked troubled. She really wanted to show her NPC status panel to Xingyu Muxi, but because she was an NPC while Xingyu Muxi was a player, such an operation was simply impossible.

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“Wuu… this is so frustrating. But I really am an NPC!”

Believe it or not, even though she had already admitted to being an NPC, the other person still refused to believe her.

“Alright, alright, Xiaoyin is an NPC. I get it. So what you meant earlier is that I just need to treat you to a meal in this game world, right?”

“Mhm! Food, food!”

Finally, the topic returned to food. Though Tianyin still felt a bit resentful that the girl in front of her didn’t seem to fully believe her, for the sake of food, she decided to let it slide.

Well, she was an NPC after all. Even if the other didn’t believe her, it wouldn’t change that fact.

Tianyin quietly grumbled to herself in her mind.

“Alright then, Xiaoyin, Sister Xiaomu will take you to find something to eat. Oh, by the way, can you tell me what kind of food you like?”

Since she was taking Tianyin out to eat, it was only natural to ask about her preferences.

“Preferences?”

Tianyin blinked slightly.

“Um… I like to eat…”

Back when she was still a boy, her favorite food had always been simple, home-cooked dishes that looked and tasted good.

That’s what Tianyin wanted to say, but instead—

“Sweet things!”

Those words slipped out of her mouth.

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And when she said them, her tone was oddly cheerful.

Huh? Do I like sweet things?

At the words that came out on their own, Tianyin fell into thought.

Hearing what Tianyin said, Xingyu Muxi smiled gently, a soft, doting expression on her face.

“Well, you really are a little kid after all, Xiaoyin~”

Then, under Tianyin’s puzzled gaze, she reached out and took Tianyin’s soft little hand.

“Eh?”

The moment her hand was held, Tianyin’s face instantly turned red, looking impossibly cute.

“S-Sister Xiaomu?”

“Mhm? Is Xiaoyin feeling shy?”

“N-no… I-I’m not shy at all…”

“Really?”

“Wuu…”

Tianyin actually was shy. But since her soul was still that of a boy, she instinctively didn’t want to admit it.

“Really not. And Sister Xiaomu, why are you suddenly holding my hand?”

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“Holding hands?”

At that question, Xingyu Muxi simply smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Of course, it’s because I’m taking Xiaoyin to get something tasty. If I don’t hold your hand properly, what if you get lost?”

“U-uh… I-I see, I get it.”

Actually, getting lost was something Tianyin felt could never really happen here.

But even knowing that, she still chose to believe the girl’s excuse, though she knew it was just that, an excuse to hold her hand.

“Of course, there’s another reason too~”

“Huh? Another reason?”

“Holding Xiaoyin’s hand is also to prevent… certain unexpected things from happening~”

Feeling the girl’s soft, warm hand tightly holding her own, Tianyin, who had just barely calmed down from her shyness, was once again overwhelmed by it.

“U-uh… by unexpected things, you mean what exactly?”

When Tianyin asked that, Xingyu Muxi’s eyes gleamed with playful mischief.

“It can effectively prevent…~”

“Prevent?”

Tianyin tilted her head curiously.

Then, the girl slightly parted her cherry-colored lips, speaking slowly.

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“Falling flat… on… the… ground~”

“Eh…?”

As she surprised, Tianyin suddenly realized what she meant.

“I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I… I won’t just trip and fall for no reason! That time was… was just an accident!”

Although that’s what she said, her voice lacked confidence…

But one thing was certain, being reminded of that embarrassing moment instantly pushed all her shyness aside. Now, she looked just like a little cat whose fur had been ruffled, irresistibly cute.

“Alright, alright, it was just an accident~”

Seeing Tianyin all flustered like that, Xingyu Muxi really wanted to scoop her up in her arms, but this time she barely managed to hold back that urge.

“Well then, Xiaoyin, let’s go. Time to get you something yummy~”

So, to resist the temptation to hug Tianyin, Xingyu Muxi quickly shifted the topic.

“W-wait, Sister Xiaomu, don’t just change the subject!”

“What? Xiaoyin doesn’t want to eat delicious sweets?”

“Wuu…”

In the end, Tianyin gave up on pursuing the topic of falling flat.