Prohibit Players From Contacting The Copy NPC

Mu Mou hatches from a pearl egg at the bottom of the deep sea, emerging as a newborn bloodthirsty mermaid in a B-level game instance known as the Misty Fishing Village. He is accompanied by System 001, a sarcastic and emotionally volatile assistant originally created by his fifth brother to help him survive by hunting for spiritual energy. Mu Mou is physically weak, naive, and perpetually hungry, relying on human blood for sustenance because it contains the highest concentration of spiritual energy. Upon exiting his egg, he encounters Dana, a colossal giant octopus boss. Contrary to System 001’s warnings, Mu Mou perceives Dana’s intent as protective rather than predatory. Dana wraps its tentacles around the small mermaid to shield him from underwater currents, displaying an obsessive affection that Mu Mou finds uncomfortable but tolerable. Mu Mou decides to swim toward the surface to find food, leaving Dana behind in the deep sea.

At the surface, Mu Mou spots fishermen on a nearby shore and attempts to approach them, but his physical weakness prevents him from overpowering them. Just as he hesitates, Yu Chen, a reclusive and imposing man living alone on the mountain above the village, captures him. Yu Chen threatens to cook and eat Mu Mou, using fear to control the mermaid. However, when Mu Mou begins to cry, pleading not to be eaten and offering to catch fish for him instead, Yu Chen’s demeanor shifts. He decides to keep Mu Mou as a pet, promising not to eat him if the mermaid provides food daily. Yu Chen takes Mu Mou to his isolated wooden home, placing him in a courtyard pond. The mermaid, initially terrified, gradually realizes Yu Chen is not immediately hostile.

Hunger drives Mu Mou to ask for Yu Chen’s blood, which he needs to survive. Yu Chen complies, cutting his wrist and allowing Mu Mou to drink from a bowl. The mermaid is shocked by the kindness and the speed at which Yu Chen’s wound heals, though he dismisses the anomaly. As he drinks, Mu Mou feels a deep sense of gratitude and affection toward Yu Chen, viewing him as a benefactor. He falls asleep in Yu Chen’s arms, feeling safe for the first time since hatching. The game instance officially begins, announcing that five players have entered the Misty Fishing Village with a seven-day mission to protect the flame. Mu Mou is informed that he is an NPC monster and must complete his tasks to avoid being deleted from the system.

Yu Chen’s nephew, Yu Kai, a curious twelve-year-old boy, sneaks into the courtyard and discovers Mu Mou. Yu Kai is fascinated by the mermaid’s beauty and intelligence, contrasting sharply with the monstrous descriptions he heard from his grandfather. He engages Mu Mou in conversation, asking endless questions about merfolk life. Mu Mou answers honestly, unaware of the danger he is in. When Yu Chen returns, he observes the interaction with quiet possessiveness. He warns Yu Kai to keep Mu Mou’s existence secret and corrects the boy’s form of address, insisting he call Mu Mou “Little Uncle” rather than “brother.” Yu Kai flees in terror of Yu Chen’s cold demeanor but promises to return the next day.

System 001 reactivates and detects Yu Chen as a high-risk NPC, displaying question marks for his stats and advising Mu Mou to run. Mu Mou defends Yu Chen, insisting the system is malfunctioning because Yu Chen has been kind to him. 001, lacking energy, agrees to investigate but grants Mu Mou the ability to transform his tail into human legs at will. Mu Mou attempts to use this new ability but is forced to revert to his tail when he realizes he is naked in the pond. The story establishes a complex dynamic where Mu Mou, an NPC monster, relies on a human who is secretly a high-risk entity, while players begin to arrive in the village, setting the stage for conflict between the game’s objectives and Mu Mou’s desire to survive under Yu Chen’s protection.