NPC Fell onto My Bed C48

Chapter 48

— Yesterday afternoon, a major fire broke out in a high-rise commercial building in the heart of downtown Seoul…

The next morning, after breakfast, Gu Taeheon and Noah sat and watched the news. The anchor, wearing a grave expression, began reporting on the previous day’s incident.

— So far, approximately thirty individuals have been hospitalized for smoke inhalation or minor injuries, and eight remain in serious condition. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.

A reporter standing in front of the now-extinguished site gave a brief update. Noah’s complexion visibly brightened at the confirmation that there had been no deaths. He had been worried, unable to check on the victims after casting his healing magic and leaving in haste.

— However, a rather unusual testimony has surfaced from the scene. One citizen claims that ‘divine grace descended and saved us,’ an assertion that is, admittedly, difficult to believe…

Noah’s eyes widened. Gu Taeheon, seated beside him on the sofa, straightened his posture slowly.

— Kim Seokhyeon, one of the survivors rescued from the fire, recalls the moment as follows:

— I was lying on the floor, everything burning and painful, and I couldn’t stop crying. But then suddenly, a faint light rose from the ground and wrapped around me and the others…

“……”

Watching the news, Noah lowered his head, unable to speak. He didn’t dare look at Taeheon. He had promised to remain unnoticed — yet he had failed again.

He knew he shouldn’t, but in that instant he resented the god he served. Had his divine power remained intact, he could have healed discreetly, subtly — without drawing attention. Why had the Goddess Eir cast him into this world only to strip him of his strength?

— Experts believe these comments likely stem from the shock of the extreme situation. The important thing is that many victims survived and were safely rescued…

Thankfully, the broadcast dismissed the light as a collective hallucination. If the injuries had disappeared entirely, suspicion would have been inevitable — but Noah had healed them only enough to avert death.

He silently thanked Taeheon for stopping him yesterday. Had he lost control and healed everyone fully, there was no question he would have been taken away by someone.

“From now on, avoid using magic as much as possible. Especially in front of others.”

“…Yes. I promise.”

Noah nodded several times. He had chosen to remain here; to stay at Taeheon’s side, he would have to learn to walk past the wounded without intervening.

Then, a memory surfaced. The voice he heard at the fire — the sudden surge of divine power when he thought he would fail — and the line congratulating him on a second class advancement.

“…Taeheon-nim.”

“Yeah?”

“Yesterday, at the fire scene, I heard… a strange voice.”

Noah hesitantly confessed: the congratulatory line for a second-tier advancement, identical to what he had recited to adventurers in the game.

“And there is… another matter I did not mention before.”

“…What is it?”

“When I played Last Chronicle at Jeonghyeok-nim’s house…”

He had been unable to bring it up amid the tense atmosphere that day. Noah carefully recounted what had happened.

“When I completed one quest, I instantly reached a level eligible for second-tier advancement.”

He felt instinctively that this leveling phenomenon and yesterday’s ‘advancement’ message were connected. If possible — if Taeheon allowed — he wanted to try Last Chronicle again.

But not at the cost of hurting him. Taeheon feared Noah leaving; Noah knew it well. So he rushed to add:

“I do not mean to return. Truly. But Airon… Airon must go back. Unlike me, he left much behind.”

Noah had spent his life secluded in Eir’s temple within the Tyrel Forest, guiding adventurers. But Airon had been captain of the Imperial Knights — a famed warrior called the Steel Champion. He had a life, duty, and people waiting.

“…I know. Yes. We must send him back.”

“…!”

“I also have something I didn’t tell you.”

Taeheon picked up his phone, unlocked it, and opened his messages — the notifications Noah once glimpsed.

[Web Message]
(Ad) Last Chronicle Monk Update!

The first ever Cleric-type Monk class arrives!
Healing Light awaits you.

— Visit Hildegart the Healer

(unsubscribe 070—)

[Web Message]
(Ad) Share your cooking recipes in Last Chronicle!
New ingredients, cooking buffs, daily login rewards!

— Taste Star-Flower Cream Soup

(unsubscribe 070—)

[Web Message]
(Ad) Last Chronicle marriage update!
— Limited wedding costumes available now!

(unsubscribe 070—)

Scrolling upward, Noah recognized each one — and when they had arrived. Taeheon spoke quietly:

“The first message came when we went to do judo. The next, when you mentioned wanting Star-Flower Cream Soup. And the last…”

The newest text glowed at the bottom:

[Web Message]
(Ad) Last Chronicle Summer Event!

Level up fast, reach third-tier advancement!

— Advance to Third Tier Now!

(unsubscribe 070—)

Gulp.

Noah swallowed. Four messages since he arrived. Four messages urging him to log in.

“…Are they telling me to play the game? To log into Last Chronicle?”

The timing — the leveling, the voice, the message — none of this could be coincidence.

Noah whispered:

“…This must be a revelation from my Goddess.”

He bit his lip. He had thought Eir abandoned him here without watching — but clearly, she still held him under divine gaze. That cold, omniscient presence was exactly what Noah had known since childhood — the god who saw everything.

“Let me ask you one thing, Noah.”

“Yes?”

“If that Eir god orders you to return… will you go?”

Noah blinked. He lowered his head, thought — only a moment — then looked up.

“…No.”

“…”

“I will remain by your side, Taeheon-nim. Even if… the Goddess calls me back.”

Saying it aloud steadied his heart. For once, this choice came not from duty, but desire. He had never before wished for something purely for himself.

And he wished — deeply — to stay with Gu Taeheon.

Taeheon smiled faintly.

“Alright. Then let’s go.”

“…Where?”

“Where else?”

He stood and extended a hand toward Noah.

“PC bang.”

Footnotes

PC bang (피시방): Korean internet gaming café, often open 24/7 and equipped with high-end gaming PCs.