Back at the bookstore, Raziel let the door close behind him with a quiet thud. The familiar scent of parchment and leather surrounded him, usually a comforting presence, but now it only served to remind him of the chaos outside. He leaned against the door, closing his eyes and letting out a long, frustrated sigh.
Archer's persistence was becoming a real problem. No matter what Raziel said or did, the player seemed determined to unravel the mystery surrounding him. Raziel had hoped that by keeping a low profile, he could avoid drawing attention to himself, but his plan had backfired spectacularly. The irony wasn't lost on him—trying to live a quiet life had only made him more of a spectacle.
He crossed the room, pausing to straighten a stack of books on a nearby table. His mind was racing, trying to come up with a way to diffuse the situation. He couldn't keep hiding in the bookstore forever. The players' interest wouldn't just fade away if left alone; it would fester and grow, just like it had with Archer.
Raziel stopped in front of a tall bookshelf and stared at his reflection in the glass of the cabinet door. His dark hair framed his face, his emerald eyes meeting his own gaze. He knew he looked like any other NPC—calm, collected, and unremarkable. But he wasn't like any other NPC. That was the problem.
A sudden knock on the door made him jump. Raziel turned, half expecting to see Archer again, grinning like a cat that had caught a mouse. But it wasn't Archer. It was another player, a mage by the looks of her robe and the glowing staff she carried. Her name hovered above her head: *Elara*.
Raziel's shoulders relaxed slightly. Elara was a regular. She had been one of the few players who still visited after the rumors started circulating. He quickly composed himself and moved to the door, opening it with a polite smile.
"Welcome to Faraway Bookstore, Elara," he greeted, his tone calm and professional. "How can I help you today?"
Elara stepped inside, her expression serious. She didn't return his smile. "Raziel, we need to talk."
Raziel's smile faltered. "About what?"
"About the rumors," she said, glancing around the empty shop as if to make sure no one else was listening. "And about Archer."
Raziel felt a pang of annoyance at the mention of Archer's name. He had hoped that he could at least avoid hearing it inside his own store. "I'm aware of the rumors," he said, keeping his voice steady. "And I've already spoken to Archer about his behavior. I assure you, it's nothing more than idle curiosity."
Elara shook her head, her brows furrowed with concern. "It's not just curiosity anymore, Raziel. Players are starting to think you're hiding something. Some of them are even talking about forming a party to investigate your shop."
Raziel's eyes widened slightly. "A party? For what?"
"To see if you're some kind of hidden boss," Elara explained. "Archer's been saying things… implying that you're not just a normal NPC. That you might be part of some secret quest or event. You know how players get when they think there's a rare reward on the line."
Raziel clenched his fists, trying to keep his frustration in check. This was worse than he thought. If players were considering forming a party to 'investigate' him, it was only a matter of time before they started causing real trouble. He had to put a stop to this before it got out of hand.
"Elara," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I assure you, there is nothing special about me. I'm just a simple bookstore owner. The rumors are baseless."
Elara hesitated, her gaze searching his face. "I believe you, Raziel. But the others… they won't. Especially not if Archer keeps egging them on."
Raziel sighed, rubbing his temples. "What do you suggest I do? I've already tried to reason with him."
Elara thought for a moment, then nodded as if coming to a decision. "You need to show them there's nothing to find. Make it clear that you're just an NPC, like any other. Maybe… maybe if you let them follow you for a while, see your routine, they'll get bored and move on."
Raziel frowned at the suggestion. He had spent so long avoiding attention that the idea of inviting it seemed counterintuitive. But Elara had a point. The more he acted like there was something to hide, the more the players would want to uncover it. If he could just convince them that he was as mundane as he appeared, they might finally leave him alone.
"Alright," he agreed reluctantly. "I'll try it your way. But I'm not going to encourage them. If they want to waste their time following me around, that's on them."
Elara smiled faintly, relief evident in her expression. "Thank you, Raziel. I'll spread the word that you're willing to cooperate. Maybe that will help calm things down."
Raziel nodded, though he wasn't entirely convinced. Still, it was worth a try. If it meant regaining his peace and quiet, he was willing to give it a shot.
As Elara left the shop, Raziel turned back to his books, trying to focus on his work. But his mind kept drifting to the conversation. He knew this wasn't the end of his troubles. Archer was still out there, likely plotting his next move. And the players… they were like sharks smelling blood in the water.
He had a feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better. But at least now he had a plan. He would show them that he was just a regular NPC, and maybe, just maybe, they'd finally leave him alone.