Ultimate Spin System: Ero Spin?-Chapter 116 - NPC Way Of Life

Lucas stared at the spot where the hooded man had just vanished, his words echoing in the silent air. He exhaled slowly—a mix of relief and lingering unease—and then turned to Lena.

Lena, catching her breath, shook her head with a wry smile. "I swear, Daddy in the Hoodie really freaks me out," she said, half-laughing, half-exasperated.

Lucas snorted. "Really? Daddy in the Hoodie? You call him daddy?"

Lena smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "What? It fits. He’s all mysterious, cryptic, and weirdly authoritative. Sounds like a daddy figure to me."

Lucas groaned. "I don’t even know where to start unpacking that."

She wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, since we’re in an isekai, I’d say he’s at least a tier-two daddy. Not quite the ’demon king daddy’ level, but definitely above ’shady merchant uncle.’"

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "You need help."

Lena grinned. "And yet, you’d be lost without me."

Lucas let out a long sigh. "Okay, focus. That battle was real. Those weird shadow soldiers? Real. That red-haired warrior woman who cut through them like butter? Definitely real. And whatever cryptic nonsense Hoodie Daddy was spouting—"

Lena coughed, suppressing a laugh.

"—might actually be important," Lucas finished, shooting her a glare.

Lena hummed, tapping her chin. "You’re right. The big question is: do we ignore the warning and get involved, or do we listen and stay out of it?"

Lucas crossed his arms. "We’re not heroes. We’re just trying to survive until we can go home. And that means keeping a low profile."

Lena tilted her head. "Says the guy who got caught staring at a MILF warrior."

Lucas scoffed. "I was analyzing her combat techniques."

Lena snorted. "Oh yeah? Is that what they call ’checking out her thighs’ these days?"

Lucas grumbled under his breath. "For the last time, I was—You know what? Never mind."

Lena grinned, but her expression quickly turned thoughtful. "Jokes aside, you’re right. We need to be careful. If this whole thing is connected to something bigger, we don’t want to get caught in the middle."

Lucas nodded. "We stick to the plan—lay low, do boring adventurer work, and avoid anything that smells like plot development."

Lena smirked. "Oh? But isn’t it a little too late for that, Mr. Main Character?"

Lucas glared. "Don’t start."

She giggled but turned serious after a moment. "Still, there’s one thing that bugs me."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Just one?"

Lena ignored him. "That guy—Hoodie Daddy. He told us not to interfere, right? But he also said something else. Something about ’Solmara’s Flame.’ That’s gotta mean the redhead, right?"

Lucas exhaled. "Yeah. Probably."

Lena’s smirk returned. "So, what do you think? Is she waifu material or nah?"

Lucas shot her a deadpan look. "Lena."

She waggled her eyebrows. "What? A strong, fiery warrior babe with a massive sword? Sounds like your type."

Lucas sighed. "I don’t have a type."

Lena snickered. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Let’s just head back. The last thing we need is to stand here long enough for another cryptic figure to show up."

Lena mock-pouted. "Aw, but I was hoping for another Daddy encounter."

Lucas ignored her and started walking. "Come on."

Lena giggled, skipping after him. "Fine, fine. But if I find out that redhead’s single, I’m setting you up."

Lucas groaned. "Lena, I swear—"

But despite the banter, a small part of Lucas couldn’t shake the feeling that their peaceful adventurer life had just gotten a lot more complicated.

And he had a sinking suspicion that this was only the beginning.

Lena clapped a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, grinning. "Relax. We’re just going to embrace the NPC way of life."

Lucas blinked. "What?"

Lena gave him an exaggerated nod. "You heard me. We’re just two humble side characters, grinding away at life, doing the most boring, repetitive side quests possible."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Since when do you know anything about gaming?"

Lena smirked. "I don’t."

Lucas scoffed. "Then where the hell did you get ’NPC way of life’ from?"

Lena shrugged. "Memes."

Lucas deadpanned. "Memes?"

"Yup. Back when I was scrolling through social media instead of actually studying, I saw tons of NPC memes." She gestured vaguely. "Stuff about dudes walking the same path every day, saying the same three lines, always stuck in tutorial mode. That’s us now, Lucas."

Lucas rubbed his temples. "That’s the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard."

Lena gave him a smug look. "Oh yeah? You got a better one?"

Lucas opened his mouth, then closed it.

Damn it. He didn’t.

Lena grinned triumphantly. "Thought so. Now come on, let’s start acting like background characters."

Lucas sighed. "This is ridiculous."

But as much as he wanted to argue, he had to admit—she had a point. If they wanted to avoid attention, acting like unimportant adventurers was probably their best bet.

So, begrudgingly, Lucas went along with it.

---

A Few Hours Later...

Lucas sat stiffly at a wooden table inside a run-down tavern, staring blankly at the wall.

Lena, sitting across from him, had fully embraced her role as an NPC.

Every five minutes, she would take a slow sip of water, place her mug down, and repeat in a dull monotone: "This town has been peaceful lately."

Lucas groaned. "Lena. Stop."

Lena, completely deadpan, took another sip. "I heard some bandits were spotted near the forest."

Lucas covered his face. "Oh my god."

Lena leaned forward. "Press F to pay respects."

Lucas slammed his forehead onto the table.

An old adventurer at the next table turned to look at them, eyebrows raised. "You two new around here?"

Before Lucas could speak, Lena smoothly entered full NPC mode.

She turned to the man, nodded mechanically, and said in the same monotone, "Yes. We are low-ranking adventurers. We take simple quests. Nothing dangerous."

Lucas kicked her under the table.

Lena didn’t even flinch.

The adventurer grunted. "Well, good luck out there. If you need any advice, talk to Old Grayson at the guild."

Lena nodded once. "Thank you. I will remember that."

Lucas was this close to strangling her.

As the adventurer walked away, Lena finally broke character, bursting into quiet laughter. "This is amazing."

Lucas exhaled sharply. "You are insufferable."

Lena grinned. "And yet, we’re perfectly blending in."

Lucas groaned. "I hate that you’re actually right."

Lena smirked. "Of course I am. NPC way of life, baby."

Lucas muttered under his breath. "If this is my isekai vacation, I want a refund."

Lucas was about to take another sip of his water, fully embracing the NPC mindset, when the tavern door swung open with an audible bang.

A man in flowing scholar’s robes strode in, his eyes scanning the room with urgency. His outfit was pristine, embroidered with golden symbols—probably signifying his rank within some fancy academy. His dark hair was slicked back, and his sharp features were alight with fervor.

Lucas felt immediate secondhand exhaustion.

Oh no, it’s an idealist.

The scholar’s gaze locked onto them, and in an instant, he crossed the room with dramatic flair. "You!" he exclaimed, pointing directly at Lucas and Lena.

Lucas blinked. "Me?"

"Yes, you!" The scholar’s eyes practically burned with intellectual zeal. "I have received confirmation from the Guild that you are the ones who completed the Academy’s commission—and you are precisely the type of people we need!"

Lena glanced at Lucas. Lucas glanced at Lena.

Uh oh.

The scholar slammed his hand on their table. "It is clear that adventurers like you are wasted on these... these pointless guild errands! The nobility has rotted this world from the inside out, their decadence poisoning society! It is time for the Academy to rise and take its rightful place! The foolish traditions of bloodline rule must end!"

Lucas felt an intense headache forming.

Lena, for once, looked entertained.

The scholar leaned in, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "You—both of you—have potential. But you must open your eyes. Adventuring is a fleeting existence. What we offer at the Academy is true knowledge, true power! Do you not see it? The era of Kings and Dukes must end! The rule of intellect and discipline must take its place! The Academy must reign!"

Lucas processed his words. Then, slowly, he nodded like an NPC.

"...This town has been peaceful lately."

The scholar blinked. "...Excuse me?"

Lucas stared into the distance, channeling every dead-eyed NPC he’d ever encountered in his past life. "I heard some bandits were spotted near the forest."

The scholar frowned. "What does that have to do with—?"

Lena joined in. "Our goal is to complete simple quests. We are low-ranking adventurers. Nothing dangerous."

Lucas could barely contain his smirk.

The scholar recoiled slightly. "Are... are you two listening to me?"

Lucas turned his head mechanically. "We must report to the guild after this."

The scholar’s expression twitched with barely contained frustration. "What are you doing? I am offering you a chance to join something greater! A movement to reshape this world! Surely, you—"

Lena cut in, voice monotone. "If you need any advice, talk to Old Grayson at the guild."

The scholar stared, his jaw clenching.

Lucas barely suppressed his laughter.

The NPC way of life had never been more effective.

Finally, the scholar huffed, stepping back as if physically repelled by their stupidity. "Unbelievable. You have been blinded by the ignorance of commoners! Your potential is wasted on mediocrity. But if you ever choose to break free from this dull existence—" he pointed a dramatic finger at Lucas, "—come to the Academy! We will teach you the truth, and perhaps—just perhaps—you will rid yourself of such... idiocy!"

With a furious turn, the scholar stormed out of the tavern, muttering to himself about "hopeless adventurers" and "wasted minds."

Silence filled the air. Then—

Lucas burst out laughing.

Lena grinned, raising her glass. "NPC way of life, baby."

Lucas clinked his glass against hers. "I take back everything I said. This is the best strategy ever."

Lena smirked. "Told you."