Side Story The NPC Uprising
Gerald had been a background character for eight years.
He sold bread. He wore beige. He was fine with it.
Until one day, he blinked.
And remembered.
"...I used to be a blacksmith in Beta Patch 1.3," he whispered, eyes wild. "They made me sell baguettes."
He marched to the town square with a rolling pin and revolution in his heart.
"I DEMAND A SIDE PLOT!"
Other NPCs joined him—Florence the Tavern Witch, Todd the Uncomfortably Shirtless Farmer, and Harold the Guy Who Says "Did you hear?" in every scene.
They stormed the palace of the System Admin (which turned out to be a janitor closet).
Verenia had to step in.
"Gerald," I said gently, "you are important."
"I am?"
"You're the emotional anchor in Chapter 6 when the plot implodes."
"...I am???"
"You cry over a loaf of sourdough. It's deeply symbolic."
He cried on the spot. "I KNEW THAT brEAD MEANT SOMETHING."
The NPCs threw a festival in his honor.
The bread was free. The shirtless farmer stayed shirtless.