Today, I'm Still Volunteering for Extra Work

Pre-registered on September 9, 2023. Blurb posted on December 24, 2023. Screenshots have been saved.

The most unusual NPC in the infinite world, Wan Ningyan, has recently become fond of dropping in on people.

She’ll either visit the terrifying asylum to chat over tea with the director or head to the interstellar prison to arm-wrestle the inmates. Wherever she goes, the instance difficulty skyrockets on a whim. Players who had been hoping to clear the instance can only weep helplessly as this once-in-a-century NPC finishes playing, pats the wrinkles out of her clothes, and walks away, leaving them to collapse in despair.

Players both hate and love her. They hate her because every instance she appears in starts at difficulty rank S. They love her because no one ever dies in an instance while she’s there. Even if they fail the mission, they’re merely tossed into some random instance. Whether they survive after that is up to luck.

Until one day, Wan Ningyan meets Shan Yu. After completing the mission, Shan Yu doesn’t leave right away. Instead, he gazes at her with a pleasant smile.

Wan Ningyan: Is there something you haven’t done yet?

Shan Yu: No.

Wan Ningyan frowns: Then what are you doing here?

Shan Yu: I was wondering if it’s possible to date an NPC.

“...”

Confirmed. This player has something wrong with his head.

The blurb and the leads’ names may change. The story is currently being drafted.

Theme: Stay true to yourself.